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diff --git a/old/57334-0.txt b/old/57334-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 43a6da7..0000000 --- a/old/57334-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,42558 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Si Klegg, Complete, Books 1-6, by John McElroy - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Si Klegg, Complete, Books 1-6 - -Author: John McElroy - -Release Date: June 15, 2018 [EBook #57334] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SI KLEGG, COMPLETE, BOOKS 1-6 *** - - - - -Produced by David Widger from page images generously -provided by the Internet Archive - - - - - - - - - -SI KLEGG - -His Transformation From a Raw Recruit To A Veteran - - - -By John McElroy - - - -Frontispiece - -Title Page - - -PUBLISHED BY - -THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE CO., - -WASHINGTON, D. C - -SECOND EDITION - - -COPYRIGHT 1910 - - - - - -THE SIX VOLUMES SI KLEGG, Book I, Transformation From a Raw Recruit SI -KLEGG, Book II, Through the Stone River Campaign SI KLEGG, Book III, -Meets Mr. Rosenbaum, the Spy SI KLEGG, Book IV, On The Great Tullahoma -Campaign SI KLEGG, Book V, Deacon's Adventures At Chattanooga SI KLEGG, -Book VI, Enter On The Atlanta Campaign - - - - - - -PREFACE. - -"Si Klegg, of the 200th Ind., and Shorty, his Partner," were born more -than 25 years ago in the brain of John McElroy, editor of The National -Tribune, who invented the names and characters, outlined the general -plan, and wrote a number of the chapters. Subsequently, the editor, -having many other important things pressing upon his attention, called -in an assistant to help on the work, and this assistant, under the -direction and guidance of the editor, wrote some of these chapters. -Subsequently, without the editor's knowledge or consent, the assistant -adopted all the material as his own, and expanded it into a book which -had a limited sale and then passed into the usual oblivion of shortlived -subscription books. - -The sketches in this first number are the original ones published in The -National Tribune in 1885-6, revised and enlarged somewhat by the editor. - -Those in the second and all following numbers appeared in The National -Tribune when the editor, John McElroy, resumed the story in 1897, 12 -years after the first publication, and continued it for the -unprecedented period of seven years, with constantly growing interest -and popularity. They gave "Si Klegg" a nation-wide and enduring -celebrity. Gen. Lew Wallace, the foremost literary man of his day, -pronounced "Si Klegg" the "great idyll of the war." - -How true they are to nature every veteran can abundantly testify from -his own service. Really, only the name of the regiment was invented. -There is no doubt that there were several men of the name of Josiah -Klegg in the Union Army, and who did valiant service for the Government. -They had experiences akin to, if not identical with, those narrated -here, and substantially every man who faithfully and bravely carried a -musket in defense of the best Government on earth had sometimes, if not -often, experiences of with those of Si Klegg, Shorty and the boys are -strong reminders. - -Many of the illustrations in this first number are by the late Geo. Y. -Coffin, deceased, a talented artist, whose work embellished The National -Tribune for many years. He was the artist of The National Tribune until -his lamented and premature death, and all his military work was done by -daily consultation, instruction and direction of the editor of The -National Tribune. - -THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE. - - - -CONTENTS - - -PREFACE. - -SI KLEGG - - -CHAPTER I. GOING TO WAR—SI KLEGG'S COMPLETE EQUIPMENT - -CHAPTER II. THE DEADLY BAYONET - -CHAPTER III. THE OLD CANTEEN - -CHAPTER IV. THE AWFUL HARDTACK - -CHAPTER V. FAT PORK—INDISPENSABLE BODY TIMBER FOR PATRIOTISM - -CHAPTER VI. DETAILED AS COOK—SI FINDS RICE ANOTHER INNOCENT - -CHAPTER VII. IN THE AWKWARD SQUAD - -CHAPTER VIII. ON COMPANY DRILL - -CHAPTER IX. SI GETS A LETTER - -CHAPTER X. SI AND THE DOCTORS - -CHAPTER XI. THE PLAGUE OF THE SOLDIER - -CHAPTER XII. A WET NIGHT - -CHAPTER XIII. SI "STRAGGLED" - -CHAPTER XIV. SI AND THE MULES - -CHAPTER XV. UNDER FIRE—SI HAS A FIGHT, CAPTURES A PRISONER - -CHAPTER XVI. ONE OF THE "NON-COMMISH" - -CHAPTER XVII. FORAGING ON THE WAY - -CHAPTER XVIII. A SUNDAY OFF - -CHAPTER XIX. A CLOSE CALL - -CHAPTER XX. "THE SWEET SABBATH" - -CHAPTER XXI. SI AND SHORTY WERE RAPIDLY LEARNING - -CHAPTER XXII. A NIGHT OF SONG - - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - -Title Page - -Frontispiece - -Si Decides to Enlist - -Off to the War - -As Si Looked when he Landed at Louisville - -Si's Load Begins to Get Heavy - -Si's Chum, "shorty" Elliott - -The Diverse Uses of the Good Old Canteen - -What the Bayonet Was Good for - -As Maria Pictured Si Using his Bayonet - -He Tries the Butt of his Gun on It - -The Best Way After All - -The Veteran Talks to Si - -Drawing Rations - -"All Right, Boss; Dats a Go" - -Si Falls out With his Food - -Si Thinks It over - -The Trouble Begins - -The Rice Gets the Bulge - -Si Makes the Acquaintance of The Guard House - -"Right Shoulder Shift—Arms!" - -"Fix—bayonets!" - -Brought his Gun Down on the Man's Foot - -Don't Care a Continental - -"Right—face!" - -"Forward—march!" - -"Company—right Wheel!" - -It's from Annabel - -Si Carries a Rail - -Si Writes to "deer Annie." - -An Army Writing-desk - -Laying the Foundation - -A Rude Awakening - -Visits the Doctor - -"Let Yer Nails Grow; Ye'll Need 'em" - -"Say, Cap, What Kind O' Bug is This?" - -"Skirmishing" - -"Naw! Lemme Show Ye How!" - -Struck by a Cyclone - -Supper Under Difficulties - -A Field Shanty - -It's the Morning - -Taking the Top Rail - -"Don't Stab Me." - -Hydropathic Treatment - -Si Defies a Regiment - -He Let Both Heels Fly - -Si Went Sprawling - -Stuck in the Mud - -It Burst With a Loud "bang." - -Si Takes a Crack at A Reb - -Si Captures a Johnny - -Corporal si Klegg - -One of the "Non-Com Mish." - -"Not 'less Ye Say 'Bunker Hill.'" - -They Had Shot a Mule - -The 200th Ind. Was Not Without Talent in Foraging - -Si Beat a Retreat - -Si Being Worked for a "good Thing." - -Si Was Disposed to Grumble - -Showing the Old Man a Trick - -Waiting for Their Clothes to Dry - -An Assault on the Well-filled Corn Crib - -Shorty Held the Calf - -Si Sprang Upon Him - -"Shorty if We—only Git—out O' This—" - -So Straight he Leaned Backward - -Si Almost Fainted when the Colonel Stopped - -Shorty Was There—with a Guard - - - - - -THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE RANK AND FILE OF THE GRANDEST -ARMY EVER MUSTERED FOR WAR. - - - - - -SI KLEGG - - - - - -CHAPTER I. GOING TO WAR—SI KLEGG'S COMPLETE EQUIPMENT AND WHAT BECAME OF -IT. - -AFTER Si Klegg had finally yielded to his cumulative patriotic impulses -and enlisted in the 200th Ind. for three years or until the rebellion -was put down, with greater earnestness and solemnity to equip himself -for his new career. - -He was thrifty and provident, and believed in being ready for any -emergency. His friends and family coincided with him. The Quartermaster -provided him with a wardrobe that was serviceable, if not stylish, but -there were many things that he felt he would need in addition. - -"You must certainly have a few pairs of homeknit socks and some changes -of underclothes," said his tearfully-solicitous mother. "They won't -weigh much, and they'll in all likelihood save you a spell of sickness." - -"Certainly," responded Josiah, "I wouldn't think of going away without -'em." - -Into the capacious knapsack went several pounds of substantial knit -woolen goods. - -"You can't get along without a couple of towels and a piece of soap," -said his oldest sister, Maria, as she stowed those things alongside the -socks and underclothes. - -"Si," said Ellen, his second sister, "I got this pocket album for my -gift to you. It contains all our pictures, and there is a place for -another's picture, whose name I suppose I needn't mention," she added -archly. - -Si got a little red in the face, but said: - -"Nothing could be nicer, Nell. It'll be the greatest comfort in the -world to have all your pictures to look at when I'm down in Dixie." - -"Here's a 'housewife' I've made for you with my own hands," added -Annabel, who was some other fellow's sister. She handed him a neatly- -stitched little cloth affair. "You see, it has needles, thread, buttons, -scissors, a fine-tooth comb, and several other things that you'll need -very badly after you've been in camp awhile. And" (she got so near Si -that she could whisper the rest) "you'll find in a little secret pocket -a lock of my hair, which I cut off this morning." - -"I suppose I'll have a good deal of leisure time while we're in camp," -said Si to himself and the others; "I believe I'll just put this Ray's -Arithmetic and Greene's Grammar in." - -"Yes, my young friend," added the Rev. Boanarg, who had just entered the -house, "and as you will be exposed to new and unusual temptations, I -thought it would be judicious to put this volume of 'Baxter's Call to -the Unconverted' in your knapsack, for it may give you good counsel when -you need it sorely." - -"Thankee," said Si, stowing away the book. Of course, Si had to have a -hair-brush, blackingbrush, a shaving kit, and some other toilet -appliances. - -Si Decides to Enlist 017 - -Then it occurred to his thoughtful sister Maria that he ought to have a -good supply of stationery, including pens, a bottle of ink, and a -portfolio on which to write when he was far away from tables and desks. - -These went in, accompanied by a half-pint bottle of "No. 6," which was -Si's mother's specific for all the ills that flesh is heir to. Then, the -blanket which the Quartermaster had issued seemed very light and -insufficient to be all the bed-clothes a man would have when sleeping on -the bare ground, and Si rolled up one of the warm counterpanes that had -helped make the Indiana Winter nights so comfortable for him. - -"Seems rather heavy," said Si as he put his knapsack on; "but I guess -I'll get used to it in a little while. They say that soldiers learn to -carry surprising loads on their backs. It'll help cure me of being -round-shouldered; it'll be better 'n shoulder-braces for holding me up -straight." - -Of course, his father couldn't let him go away without giving him -something that would contribute to his health and comfort, and at last -the old gentleman had a happy thought—he would get the village shoemaker -to make Si a pair of his best stout boots. They would be ever so much -better than the shoes the Quartermaster furnished for tramping over the -muddy roads and swamps of the South. Si fastened these on top of his -knapsack until he should need them worse than at present. - -His old uncle contributed an immense bowie knife, which he thought would -be of great use in the sanguinary hand-to-hand conflicts Si would have -to wage. - -On the way to the depot Si found some of his comrades gathered around an -enterprising retail dealer in hardware, who was convincing them that -they could serve their country much better, besides adding to their -comfort, by buying from him a light hatchet and a small frying-pan, -which he offered, in consideration of their being soldiers, to sell them -at remarkable low rates. - -Off to the War 019 - -Si saw at once the great convenience a hatchet and a frying-pan would -be, and added them to his kit. An energetic dealer in tinware succeeded -in selling him, before he reached the depot, a cunning little coffee-pot -and an ingenious combination of knife, fork and spoon which did not -weigh more than a pound. - -When he got in the cars he was chagrined to find that several of his -comrades had provided themselves with convenient articles that he had -not thought of. He consoled himself that the regiment would stop some -time in Louisville, when he would have an opportunity of making up his -deficiencies. - -But when the 200th reached Louisville there was no leisure for anything. -Bragg was then running his celebrated foot-race with Buell for the -Kentucky metropolis, and the 200th Ind. was trotted as rapidly as unused -legs could carry it to the works several miles from the center of the -city. - -Everybody who was in that campaign remembers how terribly hot and dry -everything was. - -Si Klegg managed to keep up tolerably near the head of the column until -camp was reached, but his shoulders were strained and blisters began to -appear on his feet. - -"That was a mighty tough pull, wasn't it?" he said to his chum as they -spread their blankets on the dog-kennel and made some sort of a bed; -"but I guess after a day or two we'll get so used to it that we won't -mind it." - -For a few days the 200th Ind. lay in camp, but one day there came an -order for the regiment to march to Bardstown as rapidly as possible. A -battle was imminent. The roads were dusty as ash-heaps, and though the -pace was not three miles an hour, the boys' tongues were hanging out -before they were out of sight of camp. - -"I say, Captain, don't they never have resting spells in the army?" said -Si. - -"Not on a forced march," answered the Captain, who, having been in the -first three months' service, was regarded as a veteran. "Push on, boys; -they say that they'll want us before night." Another hour passed. - -As si Looked when he Landed at Louisville 021 - -"Captain, I don't believe you can put a pin-point anywhere on my feet -that ain't covered with a blister as big as a hen's egg," groaned Si. - -"It's too bad, I know," answered the officer; "but you must go on. They -say Morgan's cavalry are in our rear shooting down every straggler they -can find." - -Si saw the boys around him lightening their knapsacks. He abominated -waste above all things, but there seemed no help for it, and, reaching -into that receptacle that bore, down upon his aching shoulders like a -glacier on a groundhog, he pulled out and tossed into the fence corner -the educational works he had anticipated so much benefit from. The -bottle of "No. 6" followed, and it seemed as if the knapsack was a ton -lighter, but it yet weighed more than any stack of hay on the home farm. - -A cloud of dust whirled up, and out of it appeared a galloping Aid. - -"The General says that the 200th Ind. must push on much faster. The -enemy is trying to get to the bridge ahead of them," he shouted as he -dashed off in another cloud of dust. - -A few shots were heard in the rear. - -"Morgan's cavalry are shooting some more stragglers," shouted some one. - -Si was getting desperate. He unrolled the counterpane and slashed it -into strips with his bowie. "My mother made that with her own hands," he -explained to a comrade, "and if I can't have the good of it no infernal -rebel shall. He next slashed the boots up and threw them after the -quilt, and then hobbled on to overtake the rest of his company. - -"There's enough dry-goods and clothing lying along in the fence corners -to supply a good-sized town," the Lieutenant-Colonel reported as he rode -over the line of march in rear of the regiment. - -The next day Si's feet felt as if there was a separate and individual -jumping toothache in every sinew, muscle, tendon and toe-nail; but that -didn't matter. With Bragg's infantry ahead and John Morgan's cavalry in -the rear, the 200th Ind. had to go forward so long as the boys could put -one foot before the other. - -Si's Load Begins to Get Heavy 023 - -The unloading went on even more rapidly than the day before. - -"My knapsack looks like an elephant had stept on it," Si said, as he -ruefully regarded it in the evening. - -"Show me one in the regiment that don't," answered his comrade. - -Thenceforward everything seemed to conspire to teach Si how vain and -superfluous were the things of this world. The first rain-storm soaked -his cherished album until it fell to pieces, and his sister's portfolio -did the same. He put the photographs in his blouse pocket and got along -just as well. When he wanted to write he got paper from the sutler. A -mule tramped on his fancy coffee-pot, and he found he could make quite -as good coffee in a quart-cup. A wagon-wheel lan over his cherished -frying-pan, and he melted an old canteen in two and made a lighter and -handier pan out of one-half of it. He broke his bowie-knife prying the -lid off a cracker-box. He piled his knapsack with the others one day -when the regiment was ordered to strip them off for a charge, and -neither he nor his comrades ever saw one of them again. He never -attempted to replace it. He learned to roll up an extra pair of socks -and a change of underclothing in his blanket, tie the ends of this -together and throw it over his shoulder sash fashion. Then, with his -socks drawn up over the bottoms of his pantaloons, three days' rations -in his haversack and 40 rounds in his cartridgebox, he was ready to make -his 30 miles a day in any direction he might be sent, and whip anything -that he encountered on the road. - - - - - -CHAPTER II. THE DEADLY BAYONET IT IS USED FOR NEARLY EVERYTHING ELSE -THAN FOR PRODDING MEN. - -IN COMMON with every other young man who enlisted to defend the glorious -Stars and Stripes, Si Klegg, of the 200th Ind., had a profound -superstition concerning the bayonet. All the war literature he had ever -read abounded in bloodcurdling descriptions of bayonet charges and hand- -to-hand conflicts, in which bayonets were repeatedly thrust up to the -shanks in the combatants' bodies just as he had put a pitch-fork into a -bundle of hay. He had seen pictures of English regiments bristling with -bayonets like a porcupine with quills, rushing toward French regiments -which looked as prickly as a chestnut-bur, and in his ignorance he -supposed that was the way fighting was done. Occasionally he would have -qualms at the thought of how little his system was suited to have cold -steel thrust through it promiscuous-like, but he comforted himself with -the supposition that he would probably get used to it in time—"soldiers -get used to almost anything, you know." - -When the 200th Ind. drew its guns at Indianapolis he examined all the -strange accouterments with interest, but gave most to the triangular bit -of steel which writers who have never seen a battle make so important a -weapon in deciding contests. - -It had milk, molasses, or even applejack, for Si then was not a member -of the Independent Order of Good Templars, of which society he is now an -honored officer. Nothing could be nicer, when he was on picket, to bring -buttermilk in from the neighboring farm-house to his chum Shorty, who -stood post while he was gone. - -Si's Chum, 'shorty' Elliott 026 - -Later in the service Si learned the inestimable value of coffee to the -soldier on the march. Then he stript the cloth from his canteen, -fastened the strand with bits of wire and made a fine coffee-pot of it. -In the morning he would half fill it with the splendid coffee ihe -Government furnished, fill it up with water and hang it from a bush or a -stake over the fire, while he went ahead with his other culinary -preparations. By the time these were finished he would have at least a -quart of magnificent coffee that the cook of the Fifth Avenue could not -surpass, and which would last him until the regiment halted in the -afternoon. - -The bully of the 200th took it into his thick head one day to try to -"run over" Si. The latter had just filled his canteen, and the bully -found that the momentum of three pints of water swung at arm's length by -an angry boy was about equal to a mule's kick. - -Just as he was beginning to properly appreciate his canteen, he learned -a sharp lesson, that comes to all of us, as to how much "cussedness" -there can be in the simplest things when they happen to go wrong. He -went out one day and got a canteen of nice sweet milk, which he and -"Shorty" Elliott heartily enjoyed. He hung the canteen upon the ridge- -pole of the tent, and thought no more about it until the next day, when -he came in from drill, and found the tent filled with an odor so vile -that it made him cough. - -"Why in thunder don't the Colonel send out a detail to find and bury -that dead mule? It'll pizen the hull camp." - -He had been in service just long enough to believe that the Colonel -ought to look out for and attend to everything. - -"'Taint no dead mule," said Shorty, whose nose had come close to the -source of the odor. "It's this blamed canteen. What on earth have you -been putting in it. Si?" - -"Ha'int had nothin' in but that sweet milk yesterday." - -"That's just what's the matter," said the Orderly, who, having been in -the three-months' service, knew all about war. He had come in to detail -Si and Shorty to help unload Quartermaster's stores. "You must always -scald out your canteens when you've had milk in 'em. Don't you remember -how careful your mother is to scald her milk pans?" - -After the company wagon had run over and hopelessly ruined the neat -little frying-pan which Si had brought from Posey County, he was in -despair as to how he should fry his meat and cook his "lobscouse." -Necessity is the mother of invention. He melted in two a canteen he -picked up, and found its halves made two deep tin pans, very light and -very handy. A split stick made a handle, and he had as good a frying-pan -as the one he had lost, and much more convenient, for when done using -the handle was thrown away, and the pan slipt into the haversack, where -it lay snug and close, instead of clattering about as the frying-pan did -when the regiment moved at the double-quick. - -The other half of the canteen was useful to brown coffee, bake hoe-cake, -and serve for toilet purposes. - -One day on the Atlanta campaign the regiment moved up in line to the top -of a bald hill. As it rose above the crest it was saluted with a -terrific volley, and saw that another crest across the narrow valley was -occupied by at least a brigade of rebels. - -"We'll stay right here, boys," said the plucky little Colonel, who had -only worn Sergeant's stripes when the regiment crossed the Ohio River. -"We've preempted this bit of real estate, and we'll hold it against the -whole Southern Confederacy. Break for that fence there, boys, and every -fellow come back with a couple of rails." - -It seemed as if he hardly ceased speaking when the boys came running -back with the rails which they laid down along the crest, and dropped -flat behind them, began throwing the gravelly soil over them with their -useful half-canteens. In vain the shower of rebel bullets struck and -sang about them. Not one could penetrate that little ridge of earth and -rails, which in an hour grew into a strong rifle-pit against which the -whole rebel brigade charged, only to sustain a bloody repulse. - -The war would have lasted a good deal longer had it not been for the -daily help of the ever-useful half-canteen. - - - - - -CHAPTER III. THE OLD CANTEEN THE MANY AND QUEER USES TO WHICH IT WAS AT -LAST PUT. - -The Diverse Uses of the Good Old Canteen 029 - -WHEN Josiah (called "Si" for short) Klegg, of the 200th Ind., drew his -canteen from the Quartermaster at Louisville, he did not have a very -high idea of its present or prospective importance. In the 22 hot -Summers that he had lived through he had never found himself very far -from a well or spring when his thirst cried out to be slacked, and he -did not suppose that it was much farther between wells down South. - -"I don't see the use of carrying two or three pints o' water along all -day right past springs and over cricks," he remarked to his chum, as the -two were examining the queer, cloth-covered cans. - -"We've got to take 'em, any way," answered his chum, resignedly, "It's -regulations." - -On his entry into service a boy accepted everything without question -when assured that it was "regulations." He would have charged bayonets -on a buzz-saw if authoritatively informed that it was required by the -mysterious "regulations." - -The long march the 200th Ind. made after Bragg over the dusty turnpikes -the first week in October, 1862, taught Si the value of a canteen. After -that it was rarely allowed to get empty. - -"What are these grooves along each side for?" he asked, pointing out the -little hollows which give the "prod" lightness and strength. - -"Why," answered the Orderly, who, having been in the three-months' -service, assumed to know more about war than the Duke of Wellington, -"the intention of those is to make a wound the lips of which will close -up when the bayonet is pulled out, so that the man'll be certain to -die." - -Naturally so diabolical an intention sent cold shivers down Si's back. - -The night before Si left for "the front" he had taken his musket and -couterments home to show them to his mother and sisters—and the other -fellow's sister, whose picture and lock of hair he had safely stowed -away. They looked upon the bayonet with a dreadful awe. Tears came into -Maria's eyes as she thought of Si roaming about through the South like a -bandit plunging that cruel steel into people's bowels. - -"This is the way it's done," said Si, as he charged about the room in an -imaginary duel with a rebel, winding up with a terrifying lunge. "Die, -Tur-r-rraitor, gaul durn ye," he exclaimed, for he was really getting -excited over the matter, while the girls screamed and jumped upon the -chairs, and his good mother almost fainted. - -The attention that the 200th Ind. had to give to the bayonet drill -confirmed Si's deep respect for the weapon, and he practiced assiduously -all the "lunges," "parries," and "guards" in the Manual, in the hope -that proficiency so gained would save his own dearly-beloved hide from -puncture, and enable him to punch any luckless rebel that he might -encounter as full of holes as a fishing net. - -What the Bayonet Was Good for 033 - -The 200th Ind.'s first fight was at Perryville, but though it routed the -rebel force in front of it, it would have taken a bayonet half-a-mile -long to touch the nearest "Johnny." Si thought it odd that the rebels -didn't let him get close enough to them to try his new bayonet, and -pitch a dozen or two of them over into the next field. - -If the truth must be told, the first blood that stained Si's bayonet was -not that of a fellow-man. - -Si Klegg's company was on picket one day, while Gen. Buell was trying to -make up his mind what to do with Bragg. Rations had been a little short -for a week or so. In fact, they had been scarcely sufficient to meet the -demands of Si's appetite, and his haversack had nothing in it to speak -of. Strict orders against foraging had been, issued. It was the day of -"guarding rebel onion patches." Si couldn't quite get it straight in his -head why the General should be so mighty particular about a few pigs and -chickens and sweet potatoes, for he was really getting hungry, and when -a man is in this condition he is not in a fit mood to grapple with fine- -spun theories of governmental policy. - -So when a fat pig came wabbling and grunting toward his post, it was to -Si like a vision of manna to the children of Israel in the wilderness. A -wild, uncontrollable desire to taste a fresh spare-rib took possession -of him. Naturally, his first idea was to send a bullet through the -animal, but on second thought he saw that wouldn't do at all. It would -"give him away" at once, and, besides, he had found that a single shot -on the picket-line would keep Buell's entire army in line-of-battle for -a whole day. - -Si wrote to his mother that his bright new bayonet was stained with -Southern blood, and the old lady shuddered at the awful thought. "But," -added Si, "it was only a pig, and not a man, that I killed!" - -"I'm so glad!" she exclaimed. - -As Maria Pictured si Using his Bayonet 035 - -By the time Si had been in the service a year there was less zeal in the -enforcement of orders of this kind, and Si had become a very skillful -and successful forager. He had still been unable to reach with his -bayonet the body of a single one of his misguided fellow citizens, but -he had stabbed a great many pigs and sheep. In fact, Si found his -bayonet a most useful auxiliary in his predatory operations. He could -not well have gotten along without it. - -Uncle Sam generally furnished Si with plenty of coffee—roasted and -unground—but did not supply him with a coffee mill. Si thought at first -that the Government had forgotten something. He saw that several of the -old veterans of '61 had coffee mills, but he found on inquiry that they -had been obtained by confiscation only. He determined to supply himself -at the first opportunity, but in the meantime he was obliged to 'use his -bayonet as a substitute, just as all the rest of the soldiers did. - -We regret to say that Si, having thrown away his "Baxter's Call to the -Unconverted" in his first march, and having allowed himself to forget -the lessons he had learned but a few years before in Sunday-school, soon -learned to play poker and other sinful games. These, at night, developed -another use for the bayonet. In its capacity as a "handy" candlestick it -was "equaled by few and excelled by none." The "shank" was always ready -to receive the candle, while the point could be thrust into the ground -in an instant, and nothing more was necessary. This was perhaps the most -general sphere of usefulness found by the bayonet during the war. -Barrels of candle-grease flowed down the furrowed sides of this weapon -for every drop of human blood that dimmed its luster. - - - - - -CHAPTER IV. THE AWFUL HARDTACK THE HARD AND SOLID STAFF OF MILITARY -LIFE. - -"APPETITE'S a queer thing," said Si to Shorty one day, when both were in -a philosophical mood. "It's an awful bother when you haven't it, and -it's a great deal worse when you have it, and can't get anything for -it." "Same as money," returned sage Shorty. During the first few months -of Si Klegg's service in the army the one thing that bothered him more -than anything else was his appetite. It was a very robust, healthy one -that Si had, for he had grown up on his father's farm in Indiana, and -had never known what it was to be hungry without abundant means at hand -for appeasing his desires in that direction. His mother's cupboard was -never known to be in the condition of Old Mother Hubbard's, described in -the nursery rhyme. The Kleggs might not have much tapestry and bric-a- -brac in their home, but their smoke-house was always full, and Mrs. -Klegg's kitchen could have fed a camp-meeting any time without warning. -So it was that when Si enlisted his full, rosy face and his roundness of -limb showed that he had been well fed, and that nature had made good use -of the ample daily supplies that were provided. His digestive organs -were kept in perfect condition by constant exercise. - -After Si had put down his name on the roll of Co. Q of the 200th Ind. he -had but a few days to remain at home before his regiment was to start -for Louisville. During this time his mother and sisters kept him filled -up with "goodies" of every sort. In fact, it was the biggest thing in -the way of a protracted picnic that Si had ever struck. - -"You must enjoy these things while you can, Si," said his mother, "for -goodness knows what you'll do when you really git into the army. I've -heerd 'em tell awful things about how the poor sogers don't have half -enough to eat, and what they do git goes agin' any Christian stomach. -Here, take another piece of this pie. A little while, and it'll be a -long time, I reckon, till ye git any more." - -"Don't keer if I do!" said Si, for there was scarcely any limit to his -capacity. - -And so during those days and nights the old lady and the girls cooked -and cooked, and Si ate and ate, until it seemed as if he wouldn't want -any more till the war was over. - -Si was full, and as soon as Co. Q was, it was ordered to camp, and Si -had to go. They loaded him down with good things enough to last him a -week. The pretty Annabel—the neighbor's daughter who had solemnly -promised Si that she wouldn't go with any other fellow while he was -away—came around to see Si off and brought him a rich fruit cake. - -"I made that for you," she said. - -"Bully for you!" said Si, for he felt that he must begin to talk like a -soldier. - -The first day or two after reaching Louisville the 200th received -rations of "soft bread." But that didn't last long. It was only a way -they had of letting the fresh soldier down easy. Orders came to get -ready to pull out after Bragg, and then Si'a regiment had its first -issue of army rations. As the Orderly pried open a box of hardtack and -began to distribute them to the boys, exclaimed: - -"Them's nice-looking soda crackers. I don't believe the grub is going to -be so bad, after all." - -Si had never seen a hardtack before. - -"Better taste one and see how you like it!" said one of Buell's ragged -Indiana veterans, who had come over to see the boys of the 200th and -hear the latest news from "God's country." - -It happened that this lot was one of extra quality as to hardness. The -baker's watch had stopped, or he had gone to sleep, and they had been -left in the oven or dry-kiln too long. Si took one of them and carried -it to his mouth. He first tried on it the bite which made such havoc -with a quarter section of custard pie, but his incisors made no more -impression upon it than if it had been a shingle. - -"You have to bear on hard," said the veteran, with a grim smile. - -"Je-ru-sa-lem!" exclaimed Si after he had made two or three attempts -equally barren of results. - -Then he tried his "back teeth." His molars were in prime order, and his -jaw power was sufficient to crack a hickory nut every time. Si crowded -one corner of the hardtack as far as he could between his "grinders," -where he could get a good "purchase" on it, shut his eyes and turned on -a full head of steam. His teeth and jaws fairly cracked under the -strain, but he couldn't even "phase" it. - -"If that ain't old pizen!" said Si. "It beats anything I ever seen up in -the Wabash country." - -But his blood was up, and laying the cracker upon a log, he brought the -butt of his gun down upon it like a pile-driver. - -He Tries the Butt of his Gun on It 041 - -"I thought I'd fix ye," he said, as he picked up the fragments, and -tried his teeth upon the smaller ones. "Have I got to eat such stuff as -that?" with a despairing look at his veteran friend. "I'd just as soon -be a billy-goat and live on circus-posters, fruit-cans and old hoop- -skirts." - -"You'll get used to it after a while, same's we did. You'll see the time -when you'll be mighty glad to get even as hard a tack as that!" - -Si's heart sank almost into his shoes at the prospect, for the taste of -his mother's pie and Annabel's fruit cake were yet fresh in his mouth. -But Si was fully bent on being a loyal, obedient soldier, determined to -make the best of everything without any more "kicking" than was the -inalienable right of every man who wore a uniform. - -For the first time in his life Si went to bed hungry that night. -Impelled by the gnawings of his appetite he made repeated assaults upon -the hardtack, but the result was wholly insufficient to satisfy the -longings of his stomach. His supper wasn't anything to speak of. Before -going to bed he began to exercise his ingenuity on various schemes to -reduce the hardtack to a condition in which it would be more gratifying -to his taste and better suited to the means with which nature had -provided him for disposing of his rations. Naturally Si thought that -soaking in water would have a beneficial effect. So he laid five or six -of them in the bottom of a camp-kettle, anchored them down with a stone, -and covered them with water. He thought that with the aid of a frying- -pan he would get up a breakfast that he could eat, anyway. - -Si felt a little blue as he lay curled up under his blanket with his -head pillowed on his knapsack. He thought some about his mother, and -sister Maria, and pretty Annabel, but he thought a good deal more about -the beef and potatoes, the pies and the puddings, that were so -plentifully spread upon the table at home. - -It was a long time before he got to sleep. As he lay there, thinking and -thinking, there came to his mind some ether uses to which it seemed to -him the hardtack might be put, which would be much more consistent with -its nature than to palm it off on the soldiers as alleged food. He -thought he could now understand why, when he enlisted, they examined his -teeth so carefully, as if they were going to buy him for a mule. They -said it was necessary to have good teeth in order to bite "cartridges" -successfully, but now he knew it was with reference to his ability to -eat hardtack. - -Si didn't want to be killed if he could help it. - -While he was lying there he determined to line one of his shirts with -hardtacks, and he would put that on whenever there was going to be a -fight. He didn't believe the bullets would go through them. He wanted to -do all he could toward paralyzing the rebels, and with such a protection -he could be very brave, while his comrades were being mowed down around -him. The idea of having such' a shirt struck Si as being a brilliant -one. - -Then, he thought hardtack would be excellent for half-soling his shoes. -He didn't think they would ever wear out. - -If he ran short of ammunition he could ram pieces of hardtack into his -gun and he had no doubt they would do terrible execution in the ranks of -the enemy. - -All these things and many more Si thought of until finally he was lost -in sleep. Then he dreamed that somebody was trying to cram stones down -his throat. - -The company was called out at daylight, and immediately after roll-call -Si went to look after the hardtacks he had put to soak the night before. -He thought he had never felt so hungry in his life. He fished out the -hardtack and carefully inspected them, to note the result of the -submerging and to figure out the chances on his much-needed breakfast. - -To any old soldier it would be unnecessary to describe the condition in -which Si found those hardtacks, and the effect of the soaking. For the -information of any who never soaked a hardtack it may be said that Si -found them transformed, to all appearances, into sole-leather. They were -flexible, but as tough as the hide that was "found in the vat when the -tanner died." - -Si tried to bite a piece off one of them to see what it was like, but he -couldn't get his teeth through it. In sheer desperation he laid it on a -log, seized a hatchet, and chopped off a corner. He put it in his mouth -and chewed on it a while, but found it as tasteless as cold codfish. - -Si thought he would try the frying-pan. He chopped the hardtacks into -bits, put in equal parts of water and grease, sifted over the mixture a -little salt and pepper, and then gave it a thorough frying. Si's spirits -rose during the gradual development of this scheme, as it seemed to -offer a good prospect for his morning meal. And when it came to the -eating. Si found it really good, comparatively speaking, even though it -was very much like a dish compounded of the sweepings from around a -shoemaker's bench. A good appetite was indispensable to a real enjoyment -of this—which the soldiers called by a name that cannot be given -here—but Si had the appetite, and he ate and was thankful. - -"I thought I'd get the bulge on them things some way or other," said Si, -as he drank the last of his coffee and arose from his meal, feeling like -a giant refreshed with new wine. - -For the next two or three months Si largely devoted his surplus energies -to further experimenting with the hardtack. He applied every conceivable -process of cookery he could think of that was possible with the meager -outfit at his command in the way of utensils and materials. Nearly all -of his patient and persevering efforts resulted only in vexation of -spirit. - -He continued to eat hardtack from day to day, in these various forms, -but it was only because he had to do it. He didn't hanker after it, but -it was a military necessity—hardtack or starvation. It was a hard -choice, but Si's love of life—and Annabel—induced him to choose the -hardtack. - -The Best Way After All 045 - -But for a long-time Si's stomach was in a state of chronic rebellion, -and on the whole he had a hard time of it getting used to this staple -article of army diet. He did not become reconciled to it until after his -regiment had rations of flour for a week, when the "cracker-line" had -been cut by the guerillas and the supply of that substantial edible was -exhausted. Si's experience with the flour swept away all his objections -to the hardtack. Those slapjacks, so fearfully and wonderfully made, and -those lumps of dough, mixed with cold water and dried on flat stones -before the fire, as hard as cannon balls, played sad havoc with his -internal arrangements. For the first time he was obliged to fall into -the cadaverous squad at sick-call and wabble up to the doctor's shop, -where he was dosed with castor-oil and blue-mass. Si was glad enough to -see hardtack again. Most of the grumbling he did thereafter concerning -the hardtack was because he often couldn't get enough. - -About six months taught Si what all the soldiers learned by experience, -that the best way to eat the average hardtack was to take it -"straight"—just as it came out of the box, without any soaking or frying -or stewing. At meal-time he would make a quart or so of coffee, stab the -end of a ramrod through three or four slices of sowbelly, and cook them -over the coals, allowing some of the drippings to fall upon the hardtack -for lubricating purposes, and these constituted his frugal repast. - - - - - -CHAPTER V. FAT PORK—INDISPENSABLE BODY TIMBER FOR PATRIOTISM. - -IT WAS told in the last chapter how the patriotic impulses of Si Klegg, -of the 200th Ind., reached his stomach and digestive apparatus, and -brought them under obedient subjection to hardtack. He didn't have quite -so rough an experience with that other staple of army diet, which was in -fact the very counterpart of the hardtack, and which took its most -popular name from that part of the body of the female swine which is -usually nearest the ground. Much of Si's muscle and brawn was due to the -fact that meat was always plenty on his father's farm. When Si enlisted -he was not entirely free from anxiety on the question of meat, for to -his appetite it was not even second in importance to bread. If bread was -the "staff of life" meat was life itself to Si. It didn't make much -difference to him what kind it was, only so it was meat. He didn't -suppose Uncle Sam would keep him supplied with quail on toast and -porterhouse steaks all the time, but he did hope he would give him as -much as he wanted of something in that line. - -"You won't get much pork, unless you're a good forager," said one of -Si's friends he met at Louisville, and who had been a year in the -service. - -Si thought he might, with practice and a little encouragement, be fairly -successful in foraging on his' own hook, but at the same time he said he -wouldn't grumble if he could only get plenty of pork. Fortunately for -him he had not been imbued with the teachings of the Hebraic -dispensation which declared "unclean" the beast that furnished the great -bulk of the animal food for the American defenders of the Union. - -Co. Q of the 200th Ind. received with the first issue of army rations at -Louisville a bountiful supply of bacon of prime quality, and Si was -happy at the prospect. He thought it would always be that way. - -"I don't see anything the matter with such grub as that!" said Si. -"Looks to me as though we were goin' to live like fighting-cocks." - -"You're just a little bit brash," said his veteran friend, who had just -been through the long, hungry march from Huntsville, Ala., to -Louisville. "Better eat all you can lay yer hands on now, while ye've -got a chance. One o' these days ye'll git into a tight place and ye -won't see enough hog's meat in a week to grease a griddle. I've bin -there, myself! Jest look at me and see what short rations 'll bring you -to?" - -But Si thought he wouldn't try to cross a bridge till he got to it, nor -lie awake nights worrying over troubles that were yet in the future. Si -had a philosophical streak in his mental make-up and this, by the way, -was a good thing for a soldier to have. "Sufficient unto the day is the -evil thereof," was an excellent rule for him to go by. - -So Si assimilated all the pork that fell to his share, with an extra bit -now and then from a comrade whose appetite was less vigorous. He thrived -under its fructifying influence, and gave good promise of military -activity and usefulness. No scientific processes of cookery were -necessary to prepare it for immediate use. A simple boiling or frying or -toasting was all that was required. - -The Veteran Talks to si 049 - -During the few days at Louisville fresh beef was issued occasionally. It -is true that the animals slain for the soldiers were not always fat and -tender, nor did each of them have four hind-quarters. This last fact was -the direct cause of a good deal of inflammation in the 200th Ind., as in -every other regiment. The boys who got sections of the forward part of -the "critter," usually about three-quarters bone, invariably kicked, and -fired peppery remarks at those who got the juicy steaks from the rear -portion of the animal. Then when their turn came for a piece of hind- -quarter the other fellows would growl. Four-fifths of the boys generally -had to content themselves with a skinny rib or a soupshank. Si shared -the common lot, and did his full quota of grumbling because his "turn" -for a slice of steak didn't come every time beef was issued. - -The pickled pork was comparatively free from this cause of irritation. -It was all alike, and was simply "Hobson's choice." Si remembered the -fragrant and delicious fried ham that so often garnished his mother's -breakfast table and wondered why there was not the same proportion of -hams and sides in the Commissary that he remembered in the meathouse on -the Wabash. He remarked to Shorty one day: - -"I wonder where all this pork comes from?" - -"It comes from Illinoy, I suppose," said Shorty. "I notice the barrels -are all marked 'Chicago'." - -"Must grow funny kind o' hogs out there—a mile long each, I should say. -What do you mean?" - -"Why, we've drawn a full mile o' sides from the Commissary, and haint -struck a ham yit. I'm wonderin' jest how long that hog is!" - -"Well, you are green. You oughter know by this time that there are only -enough hams for the officers." - -Now and then a few pigs' shoulders were handed round among the boys, but -the large proportion of bone they contained was exasperating, and was -the cause of much profanity. - -Sometimes bacon was issued that had really outlived its usefulness, -except, perhaps, for the manufacture of soap. Improperly "cured," it was -strong and rancid, or, occasionally, so near a condition of putrefaction -that the stench from it offended the nostrils of the whole camp. Some -times it was full of "skippers," that tunneled their way through and -through it, and grew fat with riotous living. - -Drawing Rations 051 - -Si drew the line at this point. He had an ironplated stomach, but putrid -and maggoty meat was too much for it. Whenever he got any of this he -would trade it off to the darkies for chickens. There is nothing like -pork for a Southern negro. He wants something that will "stick to his -ribs." - -By a gradual process of development his appetite reached the point when -he could eat his fat pork perfectly raw. During a brief halt when on the -march he would squat in a fence corner, go down into his haversack for -supplies, cut a slice of bacon, lay it on a hardtack, and munch them -with a keen relish. - -'all Right, Boss; Dats a Go' 052 - -At one of the meetings of the Army of the Cumberland Gen. Garfield told -a story which may appropriately close this chapter. - -One day, while the Army of the Cumberland was beleaguered in Chattanooga -and the men were almost starving on quarter rations, Gen. Rosecrans and -his staff rode out to inspect the lines. As the brilliant cavalcade -dashed by a lank, grizzled soldier growled to a comrade: - -"It'd be a darned sight better for this army if we had a little more -sowbelly and not quite so many brass buttons!" - - - - - -CHAPTER VI. DETAILED AS COOK—SI FINDS RICE ANOTHER INNOCENT WITH A GREAT -DEAL OF CUSSEDNESS IN IT. - -IT WOULD have been very strange, indeed, if Si Klegg had not grumbled -loudly and frequently about the food that was dished up to him by the -company cooks. In the first place, it was as natural for a boy to -grumble at the "grub" as it was for him to try to shirk battalion drill -or "run the guard." In the next place, the cooking done by the company -bean-boiler deserved all the abuse it received, for as a rule the boys -who sought places in the hash foundry did so because they were too lazy -to drill or do guard duty, and their knowledge of cooking was about like -that of the Irishman's of music: - -"Can you play the fiddle, Pat?" he was asked. "Oi don't know, sor-r-r—Oi -niver tried." - -Si's mother, like most of the well-to-do farmers' wives in Indiana, was -undoubtedly a good cook, and she trained up her daughters to do honor to -her teachings, so that Si undoubtedly knew what properly-prepared food -was. From the time he was big enough to spank he had fared sumptuously -every day. In the gush of patriotic emotions that prompted him to enlist -he scarcely thought of this feature of the case. If it entered his mind -at all, he felt that he could safely trust all to the goodness of so -beneficent a Government as that for the preservation of which he had -offered himself as a target for the rebels to shoot at. He thought it no -more than fair to the brave soldiers that Uncle Sam should furnish -professional cooks for each company, who would serve everything up in -the style of a first-class city restaurant. So, after Si got down among -the boys and found how it really was, it was not long till his inside -was a volcano of rebellion that threatened serious results. - -Si Falls out With his Food 055 - -When, therefore, Si lifted up his voice and cried aloud, and spared -not—when he said that he could get as good coffee as that furnished him -by dipping his cup into a tan-vat; when he said that the meat was not -good soap-grease, and that the potatoes and beans had not so much taste -and nutrition in them as so much pine-shavings, he was probably nearer -right than grumblers usually are. - -"Give it to 'em, Si," his comrades would Say, when he turned up his loud -bazoo on the rations question. "They ought to get it ten times worse. -When we come out we expected that some of us would get shot by the -rebels, but we didn't calculate that we were going to be poisoned in -camp by a lot of dirty, lazy potwrastlers." - -One morning after roll-call the Orderly-Sergeant came up to Si and said: - -"There's been so much chin-music about this cooking-business that the -Captain's ordered the cooks to go back to duty, and after this -everybody'll have to take his regular turn at cooking. It'll be your -turn to-day, and you'll stay in camp and get dinner." - -When Co. Q marched out for the forenoon drill. Si pulled off his blouse -and set down on a convenient log to think out how he should go to work. -Up to this time he had been quite certain that he knew all about cooking -that it was worth while to know. Just now none of his knowledge seemed -to be in usable shape, and the more he thought about it the less able he -seemed to be to decide upon any way of beginning. It had always appeared -very easy for his mother and sisters to get dinner, and on more than one -occasion he had reminded them how much better times they had staying in -the house cooking dinner than he had out in the harvest field keeping up -with the reaper. At this moment he would rather have kept up with the -fastest reaper in Posey County, on the hottest of July days, than to -have cooked the coarse dinner which his 75 comrades expected to be ready -for them when they returned, tired, hot and hungry, from the morning -drill. - -Si Thinks It over 057 - -He went back to the barracks and inspected the company larder. He found -there the same old, coarse, greasy, strong, fat pork, a bushel or so of -beans, a few withered potatoes, sugar, coffee, bread, and a box of rice -which had been collected from the daily rations because none of the -cooks knew how to manage it. The sight of the South Carolina staple -recalled the delightful rice puddings his mother used to make. His heart -grew buoyant. - -"Here's just the thing," he said. "I always was fond of rice, and I know -the boys will be delighted with it for a change. I know I can cook it; -for all that you've got to do is to put it in a pot with water and boil -it till it is done. I've seen mother do that lots o' times. - -"Let's see," he said, pursuing his ruminations. - -"I think each boy can eat about a cupful, so I'll put one for each of -'em in the kettle." - -"There's one for Abner," he continued, pouring a cupful in for the first -name on the company-roll; "one for Acklin, one for Adams, one for -Barber, one for Brooks," and so on down through the whole well-known -list. - -"It fills the old kettle tol'bly full," he remarked, as he scanned the -utensil after depositing the contribution for Williams, the last name on -the roll; "but I guess she'll stand it. I've heard mother tell the girls -that they must always keep the rice covered with water, and stir it -well, so that it wouldn't burn; so here goes. Won't the boys be -astonished when they have a nice mess of rice, as a change from that -rusty old side-meat!" - -He hung the kettle on the fire and stepped out to the edge of the -parade-ground to watch the boys drilling. It was the first time he had -had the sensation of pleasure of seeing them at this without taking part -in it himself, and he began to think that he would not mind if he had to -cook most of the time. He suddenly remembered about his rice and hurried -back to find it boiling, bulging over the top like a small snowdrift. - -The Trouble Begins 059 - -"I was afraid that kettle was a little too full," he said to himself, -hurrying off for another campkettle, in which he put about a third of -the contents of the first. "Now they're all right. And it'll cook better -and quicker in two than one. Great Scott! what's the matter? They're -both boiling over. There must be something wrong with that rice." - -Pretty soon he had all the company kettles employed, and then all that -he could borrow from the other companies. But dip out as much as he -would there seemed no abatement in the upheaving of the snowy cereal, -and the kettles continued to foam over like so many huge glasses of soda -water. He rushed to his bunk and got his gum blanket and heaped upon it -a pile as big as a small haycock, but the mass in the kettle seemed -larger than it was before this was subtracted. - -He sweat and dipped, and dipped and sweat; burned his hands into -blisters with the hot rice and hotter kettles, kicked over one of the -largest kettles in one of his spasmodic rushes to save a portion of the -food that was boiling over, and sent its white contents streaming over -the ground. His misery came to a climax as he heard the quick step of -his hungry comrades returning from drill. - -"Right face; Arms a-port; Break ranks—March!" commanded the Orderly- -Sergeant, and there was a clatter of tin cups and plates as they came -rushing toward him to get their dinner—something to stay their ravenous -stomachs. There was a clamor of rage, ridicule, wrath and disappointment -as they took in the scene. - -The Rice Gets the Bulge 061 - -"What's the matter here?" demanded the Captain, striding back to the -company fire. "You young rascal, is this the way you get dinner for your -comrades? Is this the way you attend to the duty for which you're -detailed? Waste rations in some fool experiment and scatter good food -all over the ground? Biler, put on your arms and take Klegg to the -guard-houae. I'll make you pay for this nonsense, sir, in a way that you -won't forget in a hurry, I'll be bound." - -So poor Si marched to the guard-house, where he had to stay for 24 -hours, as a punishment for not knowing, until he found out by this -experience, that rice would "s-well." The Captain wouldn't let him have -anything to eat except that scorched and half-cooked stuff cut of the -kettles, and Si thought he never wanted to see any more rice as long as -he lived. - -Si Makes the Acquaintance of The Guard House 062 - -In the evening one of the boys took Si's blanket to him, thinking he -would want it to sleep in. - -"I tell ye, pard, this is purty derned tough!" said Si as he wiped a -tear out of the southwest corner of his left eye with the sleeve of his -blouse. "I think the Cap'n's hard on a feller who didn't mean to do -nothin' wrong!" And Si looked as if he had lost all his interest in the -old flag, and didn't care a pinch of his burnt rice what became of the -Union. - -His comrade "allowed" that it was hard, but supposed they, had got to -get used to such things. He said he heard the Captain say he would let -Si out the next day. - - - - - -CHAPTER VII. IN THE AWKWARD SQUAD SI HAS MANY TRIBULATIONS LEARNING THE -MANUAL OP ARMS. - -WHEN Si Klegg went into active service with Co. Q of the 200th Ind. his -ideas of drill and tactics were exceedingly vague. He knew that a -"drill" was something to make holes with, and as he understood that he -had been sent down South to make holes through people, he supposed -drilling had something to do with it. He handled his musket very much as -he would a hoe. A "platoon" might be something to eat, for all he knew. -He had a notion that a "wheel" was something that went around, and he -thought a "file" was a screeching thing that his father used once a year -to sharpen up the old buck saw. - -The fact was that Si and his companions hardly had a fair shake in this -respect, and entered the field at a decided disadvantage. It had been -customary for a regiment to be constantly drilled for a month or two in -camp in its own State before being sent to the front; but the 200th was -rushed off to Kentucky the very day it was mustered in. This was while -the cold chills were running up and down the backs of the people in the -North on account of the threatened invasion by Bragg's army. The -regiment pushed after the fleeing rebels, but whenever Suell's army -halted to take breath, "Fall in for drill!" was shouted through its camp -three or four times a day. It was liable to be called into action at any -moment, and it was deemed indispensable to begin at once the process of -making soldiers out of those tender-footed Hoosiers, whose zeal and -patriotism as yet far exceeded their knowledge of military things. Most -of the officers of the 200th were as green as the men, though some of -them had seen service in other regiments; so, at first, officers and -non-commissioned officers who had been in the field a few months and -were considered veterans, and who knew, or thought they knew, all about -tactics that was worth knowing, were detailed from the old regiments to -put the boys through a course of sprouts in company and squad drill. - -One morning three or four days after leaving Louisville, word was passed -around that the regiment would not move that day, and the boys were so -glad at the prospect of a day of rest that they wanted to get right up -and yell. Si was sitting on a log, with his shoes off, rubbing his -aching limbs and nursing his blisters, when the Orderly came along. - -"Co. Q, be ready in 10 minutes to fall in for drill. Stir around, you -men, and get your traps on. Klegg, put on them gunboats, and be lively -about it." - -"Orderly," said Si, looking as if he hadn't a friend on earth, "just -look at them blisters; I can't drill to-day!" - -"You'll have to or go to the guard-house," was the reply. "You'd better -hustle yourself, too!" - -Si couldn't think of anything to say that would do justice to his -feelings; and so, with wailing and gnashing of teeth, and a few muttered -words that he didn't learn in Sunday school, he got ready to take his -place in the company. - -As a general combustion of powder by the armies of Buell and Bragg was -hourly expected, it was thought best for the 200th to learn first -something about shooting. If called suddenly into action it was believed -the boys could "git thar," though they had not yet mastered the science -of company and battalion evolutions. Co. Q was divided into squads of -eight for exercise in the manual of arms. The man who took Si's squad -was a grizzled Sergeant, who had been "lugging knapsack, box and gun" -for a year. He fully realized his important and responsible functions as -instructor of these innocent youths, having at the same time a supreme -contempt for their ignorance. "Attention, Squad!" and they all looked at -him in a way that meant business. - -'right Shoulder Shift--arms!' 067 - -"Load in nine times—Load!" - -Si couldn't quite understand what the "in" meant, but he had always been -handy with a shotgun, to the terror of the squirrels and coons up in -Posey County, and he thought he would show the Sergeant how spry he was. -So he rammed in a cartridge, put on a cap, held up his musket, and -blazed away, and then went to loading again as if his life depended upon -his activity. For an instant the Sergeant was speechless with amazement. -At length his tongue was loosened, and he roared out: - -"What in the name of General Jackson are you doing, you measly idiot! -Who ordered you to load and fire your piece?" - -"I—I th—thought you did!" said Si, trembling as if he had the Wabash -ague. "You said for us to load nine times. I thought nine loads would -fill 'er chuck full and bust 'er and I didn't see any way but to shute -'em oft as fast as I got 'em in." - -"No, sir! I gave the command according to Hardee, 'Load—in—nine—times!' -and ef yer hadn't bin in such a hurry you'd 'a' found out what that -means. Yer'll git along a good deal faster ef you'll go slower. Yer -ought ter be made ter carry a rail, and a big one, for two hours." - -Si protested that he was sorry, and didn't mean to, and wouldn't do so -again, and the drill went on. The master went through all the nine -"times" of "Handle—Cartridge!" "Draw—Rammer!" etc., each with its two or -three "motions." It seemed like nonsense to Si. - -"Boss," said he, "I kin get 'er loaded in just half the time ef yer'll -let me do it my own way!" - -"Silence!"' thundered the Sergeant. "If you speak another word I'll have -ye gagged 'n' tied up by the thumbs!" - -Si had always been used to speaking right out when he had anything to -say, and had not yet got his "unruly member" under thorough subjection. -He saw that it wouldn't do to fool with the Drill Sergeant, however, and -he held his peace. But Si kept thinking that if he got into a fight he -would ram in the cartridge and fire them out as fast as he could, -without bothering his head about the "one time and three motions." - -'fix--bayonets!' 069 - -"Order—Arms!" commanded the Sergeant, after he had explained how it was -to be done. Si brought his gun down along with the rest like a pile- -driver, and it landed squarely on the foot of the man next to him. - -Brought his Gun Down on the Man's Foot 065 - -"Ou-ou-ouch!" remarked the victim of Si's inexperience. - -"Didn't do it a'purpose, pard," said Si compassionately; "'pon my word I -didn't. I'll be more keerful after this." - -His suffering comrade, in very pointed language, urged upon Si the -propriety of exercising a little more care. He determined that he would -manage to get some other fellow to stand next to Si after that. - -"Shoulder—Arms!" ordered the Sergeant, and the guns came straggling up -into position. Then, after a few words of instruction, "Right shoulder -shift—Arms!" - -"Don't you know your right shoulder?" said the Sergeant, with a good -deal of vinegar in his tone, to Si, who had his gun on the "larboard" -side, as a sailor would say. - -"Beg yer pardon," said Si; "I always was lefthanded. I'll learn if yer -only gimme a show!" - -"Silence!" again roared the Sergeant. "One more word, sir, and I will -tie ye up, fer a fact!" - -The Sergeant got his squad down to an "order arms" again, and then, -after showing them how, he gave the order, "Fix—Bayonets!" - -There was the usual clicking and clattering, during which Si dexterously -managed to stick his bayonet into the eye of his comrade, whose toes -were still aching from the blow of the butt of Si's musket. Si assured -him he was sorry, and that it was all a mistake, but his comrade thought -the limit of patience had been passed. So he confidently informed Si -that as soon as drill was over he was going to "pound the stuffin'" out -of him, and there wouldn't be any mistake about it, either. - -When the hour was up the Captain of the company came around to see how -the boys were getting along. The upshot of it was that poor Si was -immediately organized into an "awkward squad" all by himself, and -drilled an extra hour. - -"We'll see, Mr. Klegg," said the Captain, "if you can't learn to handle -your arms without mashing the toes and stabbing the eyes out of the rest -of the company." - - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. ON COMPANY DRILL SI GETS TANGLED IN THE MAZES OF THE -EVOLUTIONS. - -"ALL in for company drill!" - -These words struck the unwilling ears of Co. Q, 200th Ind., the next -time Buell halted his army to draw a long breath. - -"Wish somebody would shoot that durned Orderly," muttered Si Klegg. "For -two cents I'd do it myself." - -"Don't do it, Si," admonished Shorty, "They'd git another one that'd be -just as bad. All orderlies are cusses." - -Si believed it would be a case of justifiable homicide, and, if the -truth must be told, this feeling was largely shared by the other members -of the company. For more than a week the boys had been tramping over a -"macadamized" Kentucky pike. Feet were plentifully decorated with -blisters, legs were stiff and sore, and joints almost refused to perform -their functions. - -It had rained nearly all the previous day, and the disgusted Hoosiers of -the 200th went sloshing along, wet to the skin, for 20 dreary miles. -With that diabolical care and method that were generally practiced at -such times, the Generals selected the worst possible locations for the -camps. The 200th was turned into a cornfield, where the men sank over -their shoetops in mud, and were ordered to bivouac for the night. The -wagons didn't get up at all. How they passed the slowly-dragging hours -of that dismal night will not be told at this time. Indeed, bare mention -is enough to recall the scene to those who have "been there." - -Don't Care a Continental 073 - -In the morning, when the company was ordered out for drill, Si Klegg was -standing before the sputtering fire trying to dry his steaming clothes, -every now and then turning around to give the other side a chance. The -mercury in his individual thermometer had fallen to a very low point—in -fact, it was a cold day for Si's patriotism. He had reached that stage, -not by any means infrequent among the soldiers, when he "didn't care -whether school kept or not." - -"Well, Si, I s'pose you love your country this mornin'!" said Shorty. He -was endeavoring to be cheerful under adverse circumstances. - -"I ain't quite as certain about it," said Si, reflectively, "as I was -when I left home, up in Posey County. I'm afeared I haven't got enough -of it to last me through three years of this sort of thing!" - -Si felt at that moment as though he was of no account for anything, -unless it was to be decked with paint and feathers and stood for a sign -in front of a cigar store. - -The rain had ceased, and the Colonel of the 200th felt that he must, -like the busy bee, "improve each shining hour" in putting his command -into condition for effective service. So he told the Adjutant to have -the companies marched over to an adjacent pasture for drill. - -"Attention, Co. Q!" shouted the Captain, after the Orderly had got the -boys limbered up enough to get into ranks. The Captain didn't know very -much about drilling himself, but he had been reading up "Hardee," and -thought he could handle the company; but it was a good deal like the -blind trying to lead the blind. - -"Right—Face!" - -Not quite half the men faced the wrong way, turning to the left instead -of the right, which was doing pretty well for a starter. - -"Get around there, Klegg, and the rest of you fellows! Can't ye ever -learn anything." - -'right--face!' 075 - -Si was so particularly awkward that the Captain put him at the tail-end -of the company. Then he tried the right face again, and as the boys -seemed to get around in fair shape he commanded: - -"Right shoulder shift arms! Forward—March!" - -The company started off; but the Captain was not a little surprised, on -looking back, to see Si marching: off in the opposite direction. He had -faced the wrong way again, and, as he didn't see the others, he thought -he was all right, and away he went on his own hook, till a shout from -the Captain told him of his mistake. - -'forward--march!' 076 - -When the Captain reached the field which was the drill-ground for the -day, he thought he would try a wheel. After a brief lecture to the -company on the subject he gave the command for the movement. - -'company--right Wheel!' 077 - -It is scarcely necessary to say that the first trial was a sad failure. -The line bulged out in the center, and the outer flank, unable to keep -up, fell behind, the company assuming nearly the shape of a big letter -C. Then the boys on the outer end took the double-quick, cutting across -the arc of the proper circle, which soon resulted in a hopeless wreck of -the whole company. The Captain halted the chaotic mass of struggling -men, and with the help of the Orderly finally succeeded in getting them -straightened out and into line again. The men had often seen practiced -soldiers going through this most difficult of all tactical movements, -and it seemed easy enough; they didn't see why they couldn't do it just -as well as the other fellows. They kept at it, and in the course of half -an hour had improved so much that they could swing around in some kind -of shape without the line breaking to pieces. - - - - - -CHAPTER IX. SI GETS A LETTER AND WRITES ONE TO PRETTY ANNABEL, UNDER -DIFFICULTIES. - -"COMPANY Q, tumble up here and git yer mail!" shouted the Orderly one -afternoon, soon after the 200th Ind. turned into a tobacco patch to -bivouac for the night. It had been two weeks since the regiment left -Louisville, and this was the first mail that had caught up with it. - -It seemed to the boys as if they had been away from home a year. For a -whole fortnight they hadn't heard a word from their mothers, or sisters, -or their "girls." Si Klegg couldn't have felt more lonesome and forsaken -if he had been Robinson Crusoe. - -In the excitement of distributing the mail everything else was -forgotten.. The boys were all getting their suppers, but at the thought -of letters from home even hunger had to take a back seat. - -Si left his coffee-pot to tip over into the fire, and his bacon sizzling -in the frying-pan, as he elbowed his way into the crowd that huddled -around the Orderly. - -"If there ain't more'n one letter for me," said Si softly to himself, "I -hope it'll be from Annabel; but, of course, I'd like to hear from Ma and -sister Marier, too!" - -The Orderly, with a big package of letters in his hand, was calling out -the names, and as the boys received their letters they distributed -themselves through the camp, squatting about on rails or on the ground, -devouring with the greatest avidity the welcome messages from home. The -camp looked as if there had been a snowstorm. - -Si waited anxiously to hear his name called as the pile letters rapidly -grew smaller, and he began to think he was going to get left. - -"Josiah Klegg!" at length shouted the Orderly, as he held out two -letters. Si snatched them from his hand, went off by himself, and sat -down on a log. - -Si looked at his letters and saw that one of them was addressed in a -pretty hand. He had never received a letter from Annabel before, but he -"felt it in his bones" that this one was from her. He glanced around to -be certain nobody was looking at him, and gently broke the seal, while a -ruddy glow overspread his beardless cheeks. But he was secure from -observation, as everybody else was similarly intent. - -"Dear Si," the letter began. He didn't have to turn over to the bottom -of the last page to know what name he would find there. He read those -words over and over a dozen times, and they set his nerves tingling -clear down to his toe-nails. Si forgot his aches and blisters as he read -on through those delicious lines. - -It's from Annabel 081 - -She wrote how anxious she was to hear from him and how cruel it was of -him not to write to her real often; how she lay awake nights thinking -about him down among those awful rebels; how she supposed that by this -time he must be full of bullet-holes; and didn't he ge' hungry -sometimes, and wasn't it about time for him to get a furlough? how it -was just too mean for anything that those men down South had to get up a -war; how proud she was of Si because he had 'listed, and how she watched -the newspapers every day to find some thing about him; how she wondered -how many rebels he had killed, and if he had captured any batteries -yet—she said she didn't quite know what batteries were, but she read a -good deal about capturing 'em, and she supposed it was something all the -soldiers did; how she hoped he wouldn't forget her, and she'd like to -see how he looked, now that he was a real soldier, and her father had -sold the old "mooley" cow, and Sally Perkins was engage to Jim Johnson, -who had stayed at home, and as for herself she wouldn't have anybody but -a soldier about the size of Si, and 'Squire Jones's son had been trying -to shine up to her and cut Si out, but she sent him off with a flea in -his ear. - -"Yours till deth, Annabel." - -The fact that there was a word misspelt now and then did not detract in -the least from the letter, so pleasing to Si. In fact, he was a little -lame in orthography himself, so that he had neither the ability nor the -disposition to scan Annabel's pages with a critic's eye. Si was happy, -and as he began to cast about for his supper he even viewed with -complacence his bacon burned to a crisp and his capsized coffee-pot -helplessly melting away in the fire. - -"Well, Si, what does she say?" said his friend Shorty. - -"What does who say?" replied Si, getting red in the face, and bristling -up and trying to assume an air of indifference. - -"Just look here now. Si," said Shorty, "you can't play that on me. How -about that rosy-cheeked girl up in Posey County?" - -It was Si's tender spot. He hadn't got used to that sort of thing yet, -and he felt that the emotions that made his heart throb like a sawmill -were too sacred to be fooled with. Impelled by a sudden impulse he smote -Shorty fairly between the eyes, felling him to the ground. - -The Orderly, who happened to be near, took Si by the ear and marched him -up to the Captain's quarters. - -"Have him carry a rail in front of my tent for an hour!" thundered the -Captain. "Don't let it be a splinter, either; pick out a good, heavy -one. And, Orderly, detail a guard to keep Mr. Klegg moving." - -Si Carries a Rail 083 - -Of course, it was very mortifying to Si, and he would have been almost -heartbroken had he not been comforted by the thought that it was all for -her! At first he felt as if he would like to take that rail and charge -around and destroy the whole regiment; but, on thinking it over, he made -up his mind that discretion was the better part of valor. - -As soon as Si's hour was up, and he had eaten supper and "made up" with -Shorty, he set about answering his letter. When, on his first march, Si -cleaned out all the surplusage from his knapsack, he had hung on to a -pretty portfolio that his sister gave him. This was stocked with postage -stamps and writing materials, including an assortment of the envelopes -of the period, bearing in gaudy colors National emblems, stirring -legends, and harrowing scenes of slaughter, all intended to stimulate -the patriotic impulses and make the breast of the soldier a very volcano -of martial ardor. - -When Si got out his nice portfolio he found it to be an utter wreck. It -had been jammed into a shapeless mass, and, besides this, it had been -soaked with rain; paper and envelopes were a pulpy ruin, and the postage -stamps were stuck around here and there in the chaos. It was plain that -this memento of home had fallen an early victim to the hardships of -campaign life, and that its days of usefulness were over. - -"It's no use; 'tain't any good," said Si sorrowfully, as he tossed the -debris into the fire, after vainly endeavoring to save from the wreck -enough to carry, out his epistolary scheme. - -Then he went to the sutler—or "skinner," as he was better known—and paid -10 cents for a sheet of paper and an envelope, on which were the -cheerful words, "It is sweet to die for one's country!" and 10 cents -more for a 3-cent postage stamp. He borrowed a leadpencil, hunted up a -piece of crackerbox, and sat down to his work by the flickering light of -the fire. Si wrote: - -"Deer Annie." - -There he stopped, and while he was scratching his head and thinking what -he would say next the Orderly came around detailing guards for the -night, and directed Klegg to get his traps and report at once for duty. - -Si Writes to 'deer Annie.' 085 - -"It hain't my turn," said Si. "There's Bill Brown, and Jake Schneider, -and Pat Dooley, and a dozen more—I've been since they have!" - -But the Orderly did not even deign to reply. Si remembered the guard- -house, and his shoulder still ached from the rail he had carried that -evening; so he quietly folded up his paper and took his place with the -detail. - -The next morning the army moved early, and Si had no chance to resume -his letter. As soon as the regiment halted, after an 18-mile march, he -tackled it again. This time nothing better offered in the way of a -writing-desk than a tin plate, which he placed face downward upon his -knee. Thus provided, Si plunged briskly into the job before him, with -the following result: - -"I now take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well, except the -doggoned blisters on my feet, and I hope these few lines may find you -enjoying the same blessings." - -Si thought this was neat and a good start for his letter. Just as he had -caught an idea for the next sentence a few scattering shots were heard -on the picket-line, and in an instance the camp was in commotion. "Tall -in!" "Be lively, men!" were heard on every hand. - -Si sprang as if he had received a galvanic shock, cramming the letter -into his pocket. Of course, there wasn't any fight. It was only one of -the scares that formed so large a part of that campaign. But it spoiled -Si's letter-writing for the time. - -It was nearly a week before he got his letter done. He wrote part of it -using for a desk the back of a comrade who was sitting asleep by the -fire. He worked at it whenever he could catch a few minutes between the -marches and the numerous details for guard, picket, fatigue and other -duty. He said to Annie: - -An Army Writing-desk 087 - -"Bein' a soljer aint quite what they crack it up to be when they're -gittin' a fellow to enlist. It's mity rough, and you'd better believe -it. You ought to be glad you're a gurl and don't haf to go. I wish't I -was a gurl sometimes. I haven't kild enny rebbles yet. I hain't even -seen one except a fiew raskils that was tuk in by the critter soljers, -they calls em cavilry. Me and all the rest of the boys wants to hav a -fite, but it looks like Ginral Buil was afeared, and we don't git no -chance. I axed the Ordly couldn't he get me a furlow. The Ordly jest -laft and says to me, Si, says he, yer don't know as much as a mule. The -Capt'n made me walk up and down for an hour with a big rail on my -sholder. - -"You tell Squire Joneses boy that he haint got sand enuff to jine the -army, and if he don't keep away from you I'll bust his eer when I git -home, if I ever do. Whattle you do if I shouldn't ever see you agin? But -you no this glorus Govyment must be pertected, and the bully Stars and -Strips must flote, and your Si is goin to help do it. - -"My pen is poor, my ink is pale, My luv for you shall never fale. - -"Yours, aflfeckshnitly, Si Klegg." - - - - - -CHAPTER X. SI AND THE DOCTORS HE JOINS THE PALE PROCESSION AT SICK-CALL. - -SI KLEGG was a good specimen of a healthy, robust Hoosier lad—for he -could scarcely be called' a man yet. Since he lay in his cradle and was -dosed with paregoric and catnip tea like other babies, he had never seen -a sick day, except when he had the mumps on "both sides" at once. He had -done all he could to starve the doctors. - -When the 200th Ind. took the field it had the usual outfit of men who -wrote their names sandwiched between a military title in front and "M. -D." behind, a big hospital tent, and an apothecary shop on wheels, -loaded to the guards with quinine, blue-mass, castor oil, epsom salts, -and all other devices to assuage the sufferings of humanity. - -The boys all started out in good shape, and there had been hardly time -for them to get sick much yet. So up to this stage of the regiment's -history the doctors had found little to do but issue arnica and salve -for lame legs and blistered feet, and strut around in their shiny -uniforms. - -But there came a day when they had all they could attend to. On going -into camp one afternoon, the regiment, well in advance, struck a big -field of green corn and an orchard of half-ripe apples. Of course, the -boys sailed in, and natural consequences followed. - -"Now this is something like!" said Si, as he squatted on the ground -along with Shorty and half a dozen messmates. They surrounded a camp- -kettle full of steaming ears and half a bushel or so of apples heaped on -a poncho. - -"Wish we had some o' mother's butter to grease this corn with," observed -Si, as he flung a cob into the fire and seized a fresh ear. - -All agreed that Si's head was level on the butter question, but under -all the circumstances of the case they were glad enough to have the com -without butter. - -The ears went off with amazing rapidity. Every man seemed to be afraid -he wouldn't get his share. When the kettle was empty the boys turned -themselves loose on the apples, utterly reckless of results. So, they -were filled full, and were thankful. - -When Si got up he burst off half the buttons on his clothes. He looked -as if he was carrying a bass-drum in front of him. After he began to -shrink he had to tie up his clothes with a string until he had a chance -to repair damages. But during the next 24 hours he had something else to -think of. - -In fact, it wasn't long till Si began to wish he had eaten an ear of -corn and an apple or two less. He didn't feel very well. He turned in -early, thinking he would go to sleep and be all right in the morning. - -Along in the night he uttered a yell that came near stampeding the -company. An enormous colic was raging around in his interior, and Si -fairly howled with pain. He thought he was going: to die right away. - -Laying the Foundation 091 - -"Shorty," said he, between the gripes, to his comrade, "I'm afeared I'm -goin' to peter out. After I'm gone you write to—to—Annie and tell her I -died for my country like a man. I'd ruther been shot than die with the -colic, but I 'spose 'twont make much difference after it's all over!" 9 -"I'll do it," replied Shorty. "We'll plant you in good shape; and Si, -we'll gather up the corn-cobs and build a monument over you!" - -But Si wasn't cut off in the bloom of youth by that colic. His eruptive -condition frightened Shorty, however, and though he was in nearly as bad -shape himself, he went up and routed out one of the doctors, who growled -a good deal about being disturbed. - -The debris of the supper scattered about the camp told him what was the -matter, and he had no need to make a critical diagnosis of Si's case. He -gave him a dose of something or other that made the pain let up a -little, and Si managed to rub along through the night. - -Fortunately for Si, and for more than half the members of the regiment, -the army did not move next day, and the doctors had a good opportunity -to get in their work. - -At the usual hour in the morning the bugle blew the "sick-call." A -regiment of tanned and grizzled veterans from Ohio lay next to the 200th -Ind., and as Si lay there he heard them take up the music: - -"Git yer qui-nine! Git yer qui-nine! Tumble up you sick and lame and -blind; Git a-long right smart, you'll be left be-hind." - -"Fall in fer yer ipecac!" shouted the Orderly of Co. Q. Si joined the -procession and went wabbling up to the "doctor's" shop. He was better -than he had been during the night, but still looked a good deal -discouraged. - -It was a regular matinee that day. The Surgeon and his assistants were -all on hand, as the various squads, colicky and cadaverous, came to a -focus in front of the tent. - -A Rude Awakening 093 - -The doctors worked off the patients at a rapid rate, generally -prescribing the same medicine for all, no matter what ailed them. This -was the way the army doctors always did, but it happened in this case -that they were not far wrong, as the ailments, arising from a common -cause, were much the same. - -Si waited till his turn came, and received his rations from the Hospital -Steward. Of course, he was excused from duty for the day, and as he -speedily recovered his normal condition he really had a good time. - -Visits the Doctor 094 - -A few days after this the whole regiment was ordered on fatigue duty to -repair an old corduroy road. Si didn't want to go, and "played off." He -told the Orderly he wasn't able to work, but the Orderly said he would -have to shoulder an ax or a shovel, unless he was excused by the doctor. -He went up at sick-call and made a wry face, with his hands clasped over -his body in the latitude of his waistband. - -The doctor gave him a lot of blue-mass pills, which Si threw into the -fire as soon as he got back to his quarters. Then he played seven-up all -day with Shorty, who had learned before Si did how to get a day off when -he wanted it. - -Si thought it was a great scheme, but he tried it once too often. The -doctor "caught on," and said, the next time Si went up, that castor oil -was what he needed to fetch him around. So he poured out a large dose -and made Si take it right then and there. - -The next time fatigue duty was ordered Si thought he felt well enough to -go along with the boys. - - - - - -CHAPTER XI. THE PLAGUE OF THE SOLDIER INTRODUCTION TO "ONE WHO STICKETH -CLOSER THAN A BROTHER." - -"HELLO Si; goin' for a soljer, ain't ye?" - -"You bet!" - -"Wall, you'd better b'lieve its great fun; it's jest a picnic all the -time! But, say, Si, let's see yer finger-nails!" - -"I'd like ter know what finger-nails 's got to do with soljerin'!" said -Si. "The 'cruitin' ossifer 'n' the man 't keeps the doctor shop made me -shuck myself, 'n' then they 'xamined my teeth, 'n' thumped me in the -ribs, 'n' rubbed down my legs, 'n' looked at my hoofs, same 's if 'I'd -bin a hoss they wuz buyin', but they didn't say nothin' 'bout my finger- -nails." - -"You jest do 's I tell ye; let 'em grow, 'n' keep 'em right sharp. Ye'll -find plenty o' use fer 'em arter a while, 'n' 'twont be long, nuther. I -know what I'm talkin' 'bout; I've been thar!" - -This conversation took place a day or two before Si bade farewell to his -mother and sister Marier and pretty Annabel and left the peaceful -precincts of Posey County to march away with the 200th Ind. for that -awful place vaguely designated as "the front!" He had promptly responded -to the call, and his name was near the top of the list of Company Q. - -'let Yer Nails Grow; Ye'll Need 'em' 097 - -Si already had his blue clothes on. By enlisting early he had a good -pick of the various garments, and so got a suit that fitted his -form—which was plump as an apple-dumpling tolerably well. It was left -for the tail-enders of the company to draw trousers that were six inches -too long or too short, and blouses that either wouldn't reach around, -and left yawning chasms in front, or were so large that they looked as -if they were hung on bean-poles. - -Of course, Si couldn't be expected to do any more plodding farm work, -now that he had "jined" the army. While the company was filling up he -spent most of his time on dress parade in the village near by, eliciting -admiring smiles from all the girls, and an object of the profoundest awe -and wonder to tha small boys. - -One day Si was sitting on the sugar-barrel in the corner grocery, -gnawing a "blind robin," and telling how he thought the war wouldn't -last long after the 200th Ind. got down there and took a hand and got -fairly interested in the game; they would wind it up in short meter. -Such ardent emotions always seethed and bubbled in the swelling breasts -of the new troops when they came down to show the veterans just how to -do it. - -One of the town boys who had been a year in the service, had got a -bullet through his arm in a skirmish, and was at home on furlough, came -into the store, and then took place the dialog between him and Si that -opens this chapter. - -Si wondered a good deal what the veteran meant about the finger-nails. -He did not even know that there existed in any nature a certain active -and industrious insect which, before he had been in the army a great -while, would cause his heart to overflow with gratitude to a beneficent -Providence for providing him with nails on his fingers. - -When the 200th left Indiana all the boys had, of course, brand-new -outfits right from Uncle Sam's great one-price clothing house. Their -garments were nice and clean, their faces well washed, and their hair -yet showed marks of the comb. At Louisville they stuck up their noses, -with a lofty consciousness of superiority, at the sight of Buell's -tanned and ragged tramps, who had just come up on the gallop from -Tennessee and northern Alabama. - -'say, Cap, What Kind O' Bug is This?' 099 - -If the new Hoosier regiment had been quartered for a while in long-used -barracks, or had pitched its tents in an old camp, Si would very soon -have learned, in the school of experience, the delightful uses of -finger-nails. But the 200th stayed only a single night in Louisville and -then joined the procession that started on the chase after the rebel -army. It generally camped on new ground, and under these circumstances -the insect to which allusion has been made did not begin its work of -devastation with that suddenness that usually marked its attack upon -soldiers entering the field. But he never failed to "git there" sooner -or later, and it was more frequently sooner than later. - -One afternoon, when a few days out on this march, a regiment of -Wisconsin veterans bivouacked next to the 200th Ind. The strange antics -as they threw off their accouterments attracted Si's attention. - -"Look a' thar," he said to Shorty. "What 'n name of all the prophets 's -them fellers up to?" - -"Seems like they was scratchin' theirselves!" - -"I s'pose that's on account of the dust 'n' sweat," said Si. - -"It's a mighty sight worse 'n that!" replied Shorty, who knew more about -these things than Si did. "I reckon we'll all be doin' like they are -'fore long." - -Si whistled softly to himself as he watched the Wisconsin boys. They -were hitching and twisting their shoulders about, evidently enjoying the -friction of the clothing upon their skins. There was a general -employment of fingers, and often one would be seen getting come other -fellow to scratch his back around where he couldn't reach himself. If -everybody was too busy to do this for him he would back up to a tree and -rub up and down against the bark. - -Life has few pleasures that can equal the sensations of delightful -enjoyment produced in those days, when graybacks were plenty, by rubbing -against a tree that nicely fitted the hollow of the back, after throwing -off one's "traps" at the end of a day's march. - -Directly the Wisconsin chaps began to scatter into the woods. Si watched -them as they got behind the trees and threw off their blouses and -shirts. He thought at first that perhaps they were going in swimming, -but there was no stream of water at hand large enough to justify this -theory in explanation of their nudity. As each man set down, spread his -nether garment over his knees and appeared to be intently engaged, with -eyes and fingers. Si's curiosity was very much excited. - -"Looks 's if they wuz all mendin' up their shirts and sewin' on -buttons," said Si, "Guess it's part o' their regular drill, ain't it, -Shorty?" - -Shorty laughed at Si's ignorant simplicity. He knew what those veterans -were doing, and he knew that Si would have to come to it, but he didn't -want to shock his tender sensibilities by telling him of it. - -"Them fellers ain't sewin' on no buttons. Si," he replied; "they're -skirmishin'." - -"Skirmishin'!" exclaimed Si, opening his eyes very wide. "I haint seen -any signs o' rebs 'round here, 'n' there aint any shootin' goin' on, -'nless I've lost my hearin'. Durned if 't aint the funniest skirmishin' -I ever hearn tell of!" - -"Now, don't ax me nuthin' more 'bout it, Si," said Shorty. "All I'm -goin' to tell ye is that the longer ye live the more ye'll find things -out. Let's flax 'round 'n' git supper!" - -A little while after, as Si was squatting on the ground holding the -frying-pan over the fire, he saw a strange insect vaguely wandering -about on the sleeve of his blouse. It seemed to be looking for -something, and Si became interested as he watched it traveling up and -down his arm. He had never seen one like it before, and he thought he -would like to know what it was. He would have asked Shorty, but his -comrade had gone to the spring for water. Casting his eye around he saw -the Captain, who chanced to be sauntering through the camp. - -The Captain of Co. Q had been the Principal of a seminary in Posey -County, and was looked upon with awe by the simple folk as a man who -knew about all that was worth knowing. Si thought he might be able to -tell him all about the harmless's-looking little stranger. - -So he put down his frying-pan and stepped up to the Captain, holding out -his arm and keeping his eye on the insect so that he shouldn't get away. - -"Good evenin', Cap.," said Si, touching his hat, and addressing him with -that familiar disregard of official dignity that characterised the -average volunteer, who generally felt that he was just as good as -anybody who wore shoulder straps. - -"Good evening, Klegg," said the Captain, returning the salute. - -"Say, Cap, you've been ter collidge 'n' got filled up with book-larnin'; -p'raps ye kin tell me what kind o' bug this is. I'm jest a little bit -curious to know." - -And Si pointed to the object of his inquiry that was leisurely creeping -toward a hole in the elbow of his outer garment. - -"Well, Josiah," said the Captain, after a brief inspection, "I presume I -don't know quite as much as some people think I do; but I guess I can -tell you something about that insect. I never had any of them myself, -but I've read of them." - -"Never had 'em himself," thought Si. "What 'n the world does ha mean?" -And Si's big eyes opened with wonder and fear at the thought that -whatever it was he had "got 'em." - -"I suppose," continued the Captain, "you would like to know the -scientific name?" - -"I reck'n that'll do 's well 's any." - -"Well, sir, that is a Pediculus. That's a Latin word, but it's his -name." - -"Purty big name fer such a leetle bug, ain't it, Perfessor?" observed -Si. "Name's big enough for an el'fant er a 'potamus." - -'skirmishing' 103 - -"It may seem so, Klegg; but when you get intimately acquainted with him -I think you will find that his name isn't any too large for him. There -is a good deal more of him than you think." - -The young soldier's eyes opened still wider. - -"I was going on to tell you," continued the Captain, "that there are -several kinds of Pediculi—we don't say Pediculuses. There is the -Pediculus Capitis—Latin again—but it means the kind that lives on the -head. I presume when you were a little shaver your mother now and then -harrowed your head with a fine-tooth comb?" - -"Ya-as" said Si; "she almost took the hide off sometimes, an' made me -yell like an Injun." - -"Now, Klegg, I don't wish to cause you unnecessary alarm, but I will say -that the head insect isn't a circumstance to this one on your arm. As -you would express it, perhaps, he can't hold a candle to him. This -fellow is the Pediculus Corporis!" - -"I s'pose that means they eats up Corporals!" said Si. - -"I do not think the Pediculus Corporis confines himself exclusively to -Corporals, as his name might indicate," said the Captain, laughing at -Si's literal translation and his personal application of the word. "He -no doubt likes a juicy and succulent Corporal, but I don't believe he is -any respecter of persons. That's my opinion, from what I've heard about -him. It is likely that I 'will be able to speak more definitely, from -experience, after a while. Corporis means that he is the kind that -pastures on the human body. But there's one thing more about this -fellow, some call him Pediculus Vestimenti; that is because he lives -around in the clothing." - -"But we don't wear no vests," said Si, taking a practical view of this -new word; "nothin' but blouses, 'n' pants, 'n' shirts." - -"You are too literal, Klegg. That word means any kind of clothes. But I -guess I've told you as much about him as you care to know at present. If -you want any more information, after two or three weeks, come and see me -again. I think by that time you will not find it necessary to ask any -more questions." - -Si went back to his cooking, with the Pediculus still on his arm. He -wanted to show it to Shorty. The Captain's profound explanation, with -its large words, was a little too much for Si. He did not yet clearly -comprehend the matter, and as he walked thoughtfully to where Shorty was -"bilin'" the coffee he was trying to get through his head what it all -meant. - -"Hello, Si," said Shorty; "whar ye bin? What d'ye mean, goin' off 'n' -leavin' yer sowbelly half done?" - -"Sh-h!" replied Si. "Ye needn't git yer back up about it. Bin talkin' to -the Cap'n. Shorty, look at that 'ere bug!" - -And Si pointed to the object of the Captain's lecture on natural history -that was still creeping on his arm. Shorty slapped his thigh and burst -into a loud laugh. - -"Was that what ye went to see the Cap'n 'bout?" he asked as soon as he -could speak. - -"Why—ya-as," replied Si, somewhat surprised at Shorty's unseemly levity. -"I saw that thing crawlin' round, 'n' I was a-wonderin' what it was, fer -I never seen one afore. I knowed Cap was a scolard, 'n' a perfesser, 'n' -all that 'n' I 'lowed he c'd tell me all about it. So I went 'n' axed -him." - -"What'd he tell ye?" - -"He told me lots o' big, heathenish words, 'n' said this bug was a -ridiculous, or suthin' like that." - -"'Diculus be blowed!" said Shorty, "The ole man was a'stuffin' ye. I'll -tell ye what that is, Si," he added solemnly, "that's a grayback!" - -"A grayback!" said Si. "I've hearn 'em call the Johnnies graybacks, but -I didn't know 's there was any other kind." - -"I reck'n 'twont be long, now, till yer catches on ter the meanin' ol -what a grayback is. Ye'll know all 'bout it purty sudden. This ain't the -first one I ever seen." - -Si was impressed, as he had often been before, by Shorty's superior -wisdom and experience. - -"See here. Si," Shorty continued, as his eye suddenly lighted up with a -brilliant thought, "I guess I kin make ye understand what a grayback is. -What d'ye call that coat ye've got on?" - -"Why, that's a fool question; it's a blouse, of course!" - -"Jesso!" said Shorty. "Now, knock off the fust letter o' that word, 'n' -see what ye got left!" - -Si looked at Shorty as if he thought his conundrums were an indication -of approaching idiocy. Then he said, half to himself: - -"Let's see! Blouse—blouse—take off the 'b' 'n' she spells l-o-u-s-e, -louse! Great Scott, Shorty, is that a louse?" - -"That's jest the size of it. Si. Ye'll have millions of 'em 'fore the -war's over 'f they don't hurry up the cakes." - -Si looked as if he would like to dig a hole in the ground, get into it, -and have Shorty cover him up. - -"Why didn't the Cap'n tell me it was that? He said suthin' about -ridiculus corporalis, and I thought he was makin' fun o' me. He said -these bugs liked to eat fat Corporals.' - -"I reck'n that's so," replied Shorty; "but they likes other people jest -as well—even a skinny feller like me. They lunches off'n privits, 'n' -Corp'rils, 'n' Kurnals, 'n' Gin'rals, all the same. They ain't satisfied -with three square meals a day, nuther; they jest eats right along all -the time 'tween regular meals. They allus gits hungry in the night, too, -and chaws a feller up while he sleeps. They don't give ye no show at -all. I rayther think the graybacks likes the ossifers best if they could -have their ch'ice, 'cause they's fatter 'n the privits; they gits better -grub." - -Si fairly turned pale as he contemplated the picture so graphically -portrayed by Shorty. The latter's explanation was far more effectual in -letting the light in upon Si's mind than the scientific disquisition of -the "Perfesser." He had now a pretty clear idea of what a "grayback" -was. Whatever he lacked to make his knowledge complete was soon supplied -in the regular way. But Si was deeply grieved and shocked at what Shorty -had told him. It was some minutes before he said anything more. - -"Shorty," he said, with a sadness in his tone that would almost have -moved a mule to tears, "who'd a-thought rd ever git as low down 's this, -to have them all-fired graybacks, 's ye call 'em, crawlin' over me. -How'd mother feel if she knew about 'em. She wouldn't sleep a wink fer a -month!" - -"Ye'll have to come to it. Si. All the soljers does, from the Major- -Gin'rals down to the tail-end of the mule-whackers. Ye mind them -'Sconsin chaps we was lookin' at a little bit ago?" - -"Yes," said Si. - -"Well, graybacks was what ailed 'em. The fellers with their shirts on -their knees was killin' 'em off. That's what they calls 'skirmishin'. -There's other kinds o' skirmishing besides fitin' rebels! Ye'd better -git rid of that one on yer arm, if he hasn't got inside already; then -there'll be one less of 'em." - -Si found him after a short search, and proposed to get a chip, carry him -to the fire and throw him in. - -"Naw!" said Shorty in disgust, "that's no way. Lemme show yer how!" - -'naw! Lemme Show Ye How!' 107 - -Shorty placed one thumb-nail on each side of the insect. There was a -quick pressure, a snap like the crack of a percussion cap, and all was -over. - -Si shuddered, and wondered if he could ever engage in such a work of -slaughter. - -"D'ye s'pose," he said to Shorty, "that there's any more of 'em on me?" -And he began to hitch his shoulders about, and to feel a desire to put -his fingers to active use. - -"Shouldn't wonder," replied Shorty. "Mebbe I've got 'em, to. Let's go -out'n do a little skirmishin' ourselves." - -"We'd better go off a good ways," said Si, "so's the boys won't see us." - -"You're too nice and pertickler for a soljer. Si. They'll all be doin' -it, even the Cap'n himself, by termorrer or nex' day." - -They went out back of the camp, where Si insisted on getting behind the -largest tree he could find. Then they sat down and engaged in that -exciting chase of the Pediculus up and down the seams of their garments, -so familiar to all who wore either the blue or the gray. Thousands of -nice young men who are now preachers and doctors and lawyers and -statesmen, felt just as bad about it at first as Si did. - -"Shorty," said Si, as they slowly walked back to eat their supper, which -had been neglected in the excitement of the hour, "before Co. Q left -Posey County to jine the rigiment a feller 't was home on furlow told me -ter let my finger-nails grow long 'n' sharp. He said I'd need 'em. I -didn't know what he meant then, but I b'lieve I do now." - - - - - -CHAPTER XII. A WET NIGHT THE DEPRAVITY OF AN ARMY TENT REVEALS ITSELF. - -NIGHT threw her dark mantle over the camp of the 200th Ind. The details -of guard and picket had been made. Videts, with sleepless eye and -listening ear, kept watch and ward on the outposts, while faithful -sentries trod their beats around the great bivouac. All day the army had -marched, and was to take the road again at an early hour in the morning. -Supper had been eaten, and the tired soldiers were gathered around the -campfires that gleamed far and near through the darkness. - -"Si," said Shorty to his chum as they sat on a log beside the dying -embers, "how d'ye like soldierin', as fur as ye've got?" - -"It's purty hard business," said Si, reflectively, "an' I s'pose we -haint seen the worst on it yet, either, from what I've hearn tell. Pity -the men that got up this war can't be made to do all the trampin' 'n' -fitin'. An' them fellers up in old Injjeanny that come 'round makin' -such red-hot speeches to git us boys to 'list, wouldn't it be fun to see -'em humpin' 'long with gun 'n' knapsack, 'n' chawin' hardtack, 'n' -stan'in' guard nights, 'n' pourin' water on their blisters, 'n' pickin' -graybacks off their shirts, 'n' p'leecin' camp, 'n' washin' their own -clothes?" - -"I think we'd enj'y seein' 'em do all that," said Shorty, laughing at -the picture Si had drawn. "I reckon most of 'em 'd peter out purty -quick, and I'd like to hear what sort o' speeches they'd, make then. I -tell ye, Si, there's a big diff'rence 'tween goin' yerself an' tellin' -some other feller to go." - -"Mebbe they'll git to draftin' after a while," observed Si, "'n' if they -do I hope that'll ketch em!" - -"Wall, we're in fur it, anyway," said Shorty. "Let's take down the bed -'n' turn in!" - -It didn't take long to complete the arrangements for the night. They -spread their "gum" blankets, or ponchos, on the ground, within the tent, -and on these their wool blankets, placed their knapsacks at the head for -pillows, and that was all. It was warmer than usual that evening, and -they stripped down to their nether garments. - -"Feels good once in a while," said Si, "to peel a feller's clothes oft, -'n' sleep in a Christian-like way. But, Great Scott! Shorty, ain't this -ground lumpy? It's like lying on a big washboard. I scooted all over the -country huntin' fer straw to-night. There wasn't but one little stack -within a mile of camp. Them derned Ohio chaps gobbled every smidgin of -it. They didn't leave enuff to make a hummin'-bird's nest. The 200th -Ind. 'll git even with 'em some day." - -So Si and Shorty crept in between the blankets, drew the top one up to -their chins, and adjusted their bodily protuberances as best they could -to fit the ridges and hollows beneath them. - -"Now, Si," said Shorty, "don't ye git to fitin' rebels in yer sleep and -kick the kiver off, as ye did last night." - -As they lay there their ears caught the music of the bugles sounding the -"tattoo." Far and near floated through the clear night air the familiar -melody that warned every soldier not on duty to go to bed. Next to the -200th Ind. lay a regiment of wild Michigan veterans, who struck up, -following the strains of the bugles: - -Say, oh Dutch'y, will ye fight mit Si-gel? Zwei glass o' la-ger, Yaw! -Yaw! Yaw!!! Will yet fight to help de bul-ly ea-gle? - -Schweitzer-ksse und pret-zels, Hur-raw! raw! raw! - -During the night there came one of those sudden storms that seemed to be -sent by an inscrutable Providence especially to give variety to the -soldier's life. - -Struck by a Cyclone 111 - -A well-developed cyclone struck the camp, and Si and Shorty were soon -awakened by the racket. The wind was blowing and whirling in fierce -gusts, wrenching out the tent-pins or snapping the ropes as if they were -threads. Everywhere was heard the flapping of canvas, and the yells and -shouts of the men as they dashed about in the darkness and wild -confusion. Many of the tents were already prostrate, and their -demoralized inmates were crawling out from under the ruin. To crown all -the rain began to fall in torrents. The camp was a vast pandemonium. The -blackest darkness prevailed, save when the scene was illuminated by -flashes of lightning. These were followed by peals of thunder that made -the stoutest quake. - -Si sprang up at the first alarm. "Git up, here, you fellers!" he -shouted. "We'd better go outside and grab the ropes, or the hull shebang -'ll go over." - -There was not a moment to spare. Si dashed out into the storm and -darkness, followed by his comrades. Seizing the ropes, some of which -were already loosened, they braced themselves and hung on for dear life, -in the drenching rain, their hair and garments streaming in the wind. - -Si's prompt action saved the tent from the general wreck. The fury of -the storm was soon past. Si and his comrades, after driving the pins and -securing the ropes, re-entered the tent, wet and shivering for the -mercury had gone down with a tumble, or rather it would have done so had -they been supplied with thermometers. But the scanty costume in which Si -found himself afforded a weather indicator sufficiently accurate for all -practical purposes. - -Supper Under Difficulties 115 - -The ground was flooded, and their blankets and garments were fast -absorbing the water that flowed around in such an exasperating way. -Sleep under such conditions was out of the question. Si and Shorty put -on their clothes and tried to make the best of their sorry plight. - -By this time the rain had nearly ceased. Fortunately they had laid in a -good stock of fuel the night before, and after a little patient effort -they succeeded in getting a fire started. Around this the boys hovered, -alternately warming their calves and shins. - -"This is a leetle more'n I bargained fer," said Si. Then, taking a -philosophical view of the case, he added, "but there's one good thing -about it, Shorty, we'll be all fixed for mornin', an' we won't have to -get up when they sound the revel-lee. The buglers kin jest bust -theirselves a-blowin' fer all I keer!" - -In this way the soldiers spent the remainder of the night. Before -daybreak the blast of a hundred bugles rang out, but there was little -need for the reveille. - -Breakfast was soon over, and in the gray dawn of that murky morning the -long column went trailing on its way. The weather gave promise of a -sloppy day, and the indications were fully verified. A drizzling rain -set in, and continued without cessation. The boys put their heads -through the holes in their ponchos, from the corners of which the water -streamed. With their muskets at a "secure" they sloshed along through -the mud, hour after hour. In spite of their "gums" the water found its -way in at the back of the neck and trickled down their bodies. Their -clothes became saturated, and they were altogether about as miserable as -it is possible for mortals to be. - -A Field Shanty 117 - -It seemed to Si that the maximum of discomfort had been reached. He had -experienced one thing after another during the few weeks since he left -home, and he thought each in turn was worse than the last, and about as -bad as it could be. But Si learned a good deal more before he graduated. -All through the long, dreary day the soldiers plodded on. There was -little comfort to be derived from the "rest," for the ground was soaked -with water. - -"Why didn't we think of it, Shorty," said Si, "'n' make it part o' the -bargain' when we 'listed that we were to have umbrellers. These gum -things don't amount to shucks, nohow, to keep the rain off. I sh'd think -Uncle Sam might do that much for us!" - -"I reckon our clothes 'll be purty well washed by the time we git out o' -this mess," said Shorty. - -"Feels that way," said Si; "but how about the bilin'? A cold bath jest -refreshes them pesky little varmints, 'n' makes 'em livelier 'n ever. -Say, Shorty, ye didn't write home anything 'bout our havin' graybacks, -did ye?" - -"No, not yet; but I was thinkin' I'd tell 'em 'bout it one o' these -days." - -"Well, Shorty, I ain't going to tell my folks; it 'd jest make my mother -feel awful to know I was that way. And sister Maria, and—" - -Si was thinking aloud, and was going to say "Annabel," but he checked -himself. That name was not to be mentioned in other ears. But he was -afraid she would go back on him if she knew, all about it. - -It was nearly night when the 200th Ind., dripping and discouraged, filed -off into a field of standing corn to pass the night. The men sank to -their shoetops in the soft earth. Si remarked to Shorty that he didn't -see why the officers should turn 'em loose in such a place as that. But -the longer he lived the more he found out about those things. That was -the way they always did. - -It's the Morning 119 - -In five minutes after arms were stacked not a cornstalk remained -standing in the field. During the afterfnoon the troops had gone over a -long stretch of swamp road that was almost impassable for teams. Fears -were entertained that the wagons of the regiment would not be up that -night, and they would not have their tents to shelter them from the -storm. In anticipation of such a calamity the boys, gathered in the -cornstalks, having a vague idea that they would help out in case of -emergency. - -Taking the Top Rail 113 - -Then there was a scramble for the fences. Recognizing the need of good -fuel, an order from the General was filtered through the various -headquarters that the men might take the top rails, only, from the fence -inclosing tha field. This order was literally interpreted and carried -out, each man, successively, taking the "top rail" as he found it. The -very speedy result was that the bottom rails became the "top," and then -there weren't any. Almost in the twinkling of an eye the entire fence -disappeared. - -The drizzle continued through the evening, and by the sputtering fires -the soldiers prepared and ate their frugal suppers. Word came that, as -was feared, the wagons were hopelessly bemired three or four miles back, -and the men would have to make such shift as they could. - -The prospect was dreary and cheerless enough. It was little wonder that -many of the young Hoosiers felt as if they wanted to quit and go home. -But with that wonderful facility for adapting themselves to -circumstances that marked the volunteer soldiers, they set about the -work of preparing for the night. No one who has not "been there" can -imagine how good a degree of comfort—comparatively speaking, of -course—it was possible to reach, with such surroundings, by the exercise -of a little patience, ingenuity and industry. - -Si and Shorty and the others of the "mess" bestirred themselves, and it -did not take them more than 20 minutes to build, out of rails and -cornstalks, a shelter that was really inviting. They kindled a big fire -in front of it, laid some rails within, covered with stalks, and on -these spread their blankets. Si, who had "bossed" the job, viewed the -work with great satisfaction. - -"I tell ye, that's no slouch of a shanty!" said he. - - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. SI "STRAGGLED" AND THE OTHER BOYS MADE IT MIGHTY LOVELY -FOR HIM. - -ONE day while Buell was chasing Bragg, two or three weeks after leaving -Louisville, the army was pushing forward at a gait that made the cavalry -ahead trot half the time to keep out of the way of the infantry. The -extraordinary speed that day was due to the fact that there were no -rebels in sight. Half a dozen ragged troopers with shotguns, a mile -away, would have caused the whole army to halt, form line-of-battle, and -stay thera the rest of the day. - -The tanned veterans didn't mind the marching. They stretched their legs -and went swinging along with a happy-go-lucky air, always ready for -anything that might turn up. But it was rough on the new troops, just -from home. It taxed their locomotive powers to the utmost limit. - -The boys of the 200th Ind. started out bravely. Their fresh, clean -faces, new uniforms, and shiny accouterments contrasted strongly with -those of the weather-beaten soldiers of '61. You could tell a -"tenderfoot" as far as you could see him. - -They trudged along in fair shape for an hour or two. Before starting in -the morning strict orders had been read to the regiment forbidding -straggling, for any reason, under the most terrifying pains and -penalties. - -"Them fellers that's been in the service longer 'n we have think they're -smart," said Si Klegg, as he and Shorty plodded on, both already a -little blown. "Well show 'em that we can hoof it jest as fast as they -can, and jest as fur in a day!" - -"Seems to me we're git'n over the ground party lively to-day," replied -Shorty, who was in a grumbling mood. "Wonder if the Gin'ral thinks we're -bosses! I'm a little short o' wind, and these pesky gunboats are -scrapin' the bark off'n my feet; but I'll keep up or bust." - -Though e spirit of these young patriots was willing, the flesh was weak. -It wasn't long till Si began to limp. Now and then a groan escaped his -lips as a fresh blister "broke." But Si clinched his teeth, humped his -back to ease his shoulders from the weight of his knapsack, screwed up -his courage, and tramped on over the stony pike. He thought the -breathing spells were very short and a long way apart. - -Si's knapsack had experienced the universal shrinkage, as told in a -previous chapter of our hero's martial career. He still had, however, a -good many things that he thought he couldn't spare, but which he found -later he could very well get along without. - -By noon the 200th began to show signs of going to pieces. The column -stretched out longer and longer, like a piece of India-rubber. The ranks -looked thin and ragged. Lame and foot-sore, with wo-begone faces, their -bodies aching in every bone and tendon, and overcome with a weariness -that no one can realize unless he has "been there," the men dropped out -one by one and threw themselves into the fence-corners to rest. The -officers stormed and drew their swords in vain. Nature—that is, the -nature of a new soldier—could endure no more. The ambulances were filled -to their utmost, but these would not hold a twentieth part of the -crippled and suffering men. - -"How're ye gittin' on, Shorty?" said Si, as he and his comrade still -struggled along. - -"Fair to middlin'," replied Shorty. "I'm goin' to try and pull through!" - -"I thought I could," said Si, "but I'm 'bout played out! I am, fer a -fact! I guess ef I rest a bit I'll be able to ketch up after a while." - -Si didn't know till he found out by experience how hard it was to "ketch -up" when a soldier once got behind on the march. Si was too fat for a -good roadster, but it didn't take a great while to work off his surplus -flesh. Shorty was tall and slim, mostly bone—one of the sort that always -stood the marching best, crept up to the Orderly and told him that he -would have to stop and puff a while and give his blisters a rest. He'd -pull up with Co. Q in an hour or so. - -"Better not, Si" said the Orderly; "ye know it's agin orders, and the -rear-guard 'll punch ye with their bay'net's if they catch ye -stragglin'." - -But Si concluded that if he must die for his country it would be sweeter -to do so by having a bayonet inserted in his vitals, and then it would -be all over with at once, than to walk himself to death. - -So he gradually fell back till he reached the tail of the company. -Watching his opportunity, he left the ranks, crept into a clump of -bushes, and lay down, feeling as if he had been run through a grist- -mill. Soon the rear-guard of the 200th came along, with fixed bayonets, -driving before them like a flock of frightened sheep a motley crowd of -limping, groaning men, gathered up by the roadside. - -Si lay very still, hoping to escaoe discovery; but the keen eye of the -officer detected the blue heap among the bushes. - -"Bring that man out!" said he sternly to one of the guards. - -Poor Si scarcely dare to breathe. He hoped the man would think he was -dead, and therefore no longer of any account. But the soldier began to -prod him with his bayonet, ordering him to get up and move on. - -'don't Stab Me.' 123 - -"Look-a-here, pard," said Si, "don't stab me with that thing! I jest -can't git along any furder till I blow a little. You please lemme be, -an' I'll do as much for you. P'rhaps some time you'll get played out and -I'll be on the rear-guard. The Cap'n 'll tell me ter fotch ye 'long, an' -I'll jest let ye rest, so I will!" - -This view of the case struck the guard with some force. Moved with -compassion, he turned away, leaving Si to enjoy his rest. - -Hydropathic Treatment 125 - -Si threw aside his traps, took off his shoes and stockings, and bathed -his feet with water from his canteen. He ate a couple of hardtack, and -in the course of half an hour began to feel more like Si Klegg. He -geared himself up, shouldered his gun, and started to "ketch up." - -All this time the stream of troops—regiments, brigades and divisions—had -flowed on. Of course, soldiers who were with their colors had the right -of way, and the stragglers were obliged to stumble along as best they -could, over the logs and through the bushes at the sides of the roads or -skirt along the edges of the fields and woods adjoining. It was this -fact added to their exhausted and crippled condition, that made it -almost impossible for stragglers to overtake their regiments until they -halted for the night. Even then it was often midnight before the last of -the wayfarers, weary and worn, dragged their aching limbs into camp. - -Si started forward briskly, but soon found it was no easy matter to gain -the mile or so that the 200th Ind. was now ahead of him. It was about -all he could do to keep up with the fast-moving column and avoid failing -still further to the rear. Presently the bugles sounded a halt for one -of the hourly rests. - -"Now," said Si to himself, "I'll have a good chance to git along tor'd -the front. The soljers 'll all lie down in the fence corners an' leave -the road clear. I'll jest git up an' dust!" - -The sound of the bugles had scarcely died away when the pike was -deserted, and on either side, as far as the eye could reach, the -prostrate men that covered the ground mingled in a long fringe of blue. - -Si got up into the road and started along the lane between these lines -of recumbent soldiers. His gait was a little shaky, for the blisters on -his feet began to give evidence of renewed activity. He trudged pluckily -along, limping some in spite of himself, but on the whole making very -good headway. - -Pretty soon he struck a veteran regiment from Illinois, the members of -which were sitting and lying around in all the picturesque and -indescribable postures which the old soldiers found gave them the -greatest comfort during a "rest." Then they commenced—that is, it was -great sport for the Sucker boys, though Si did not readily appreciate -the humorous features of the scene. - -"What rigiment is this?" asked Si, timidly. - -"Same old rijiment!" was the answer from half a dozen at once. A single -glance told the swarthy veterans that the fresh-looking youth who asked -this conundrum belonged to one of the new regiments, and they -immediately opened their batteries upon him: - -"Left—left-=left!" - -"Hayfoot—strawfoot! Hayfoot—strawfoot!" keeping time with Si's somewhat -irregular steps. - -"Hello, there, you! Change step and you'll march easier!" - -"Look at that 'ere poor feller; the only man left alive of his regiment! -Great Cesar, how they must have suffered! Say, what rijiment did you -b'long to?" - -"Paymaster's comin', boys, here's a chap with a pay-roll round his -neck!" Si had put on that morning the last of the paper collars he had -brought from home. - -"You'd better shed that knapsack, or it'll be the death of ye!" - -"I say, there, how's all the folks to home?" - -"How d'ye like it as far as you've got, any way?" - -"Git some commissary and pour into them gunboats!" - -"Second relief's come, boys; we can all go home now." - -"Grab a root!" - -"Hep—hep—hep!" - -"How'd ye leave Mary Ann?" - -Si had never been under such a fire before. He stood it as long as he -could, and 'then he stopped. - -"Halt!" shouted a chorus of voices. "Shoulder—Arms!" "Order—Arms!" - -By this time Si's wrath was at the boiling point. Casting around him a -look of defiance, he exclaimed: - -"You cowardly blaggards; I can jest lick any two of ye, an' I'll dare ye -to come on. If the 200th Ind. was here we'd clean out the hull pack of -ye quicker'n ye can say scat!" - -This is where Si made a mistake. He ought to have kept right on and said -nothing. But Si had to find out all these things by experience, as the -rest of the boys did. - -Si Defies a Regiment 129 - -All the members took a hand in the game. They just got right up and -yelled, discharging at Si a volley of expletives and pointed remarks -that drove him to desperation. Instinctively he brought up his gun. - -"Load in nine times—Load!" shouted a dozen of the Illinois tramps. - -If Si's gun had been loaded he would have shot somebody, regardless of -consequences. Thinking of his bayonet, he jerked it quickly from its -scabbard. - -"Fix—Bay'net!" yelled the ragged veterans. - -And he did, though it was more from the promptings of his own hostile -feelings than in obedience to the orders. - -"Charge—Bay'net!" - -Si had completely lost control of himself in his overpowering rage. With -blood in his eye, he came to, a charge, glancing fiercely from one side -of the road to the other, uncertain where to begin the assault. - -Instantly there was a loud clicking all along the line. The Illinois -soldiers, almost to a man, fixed their bayonets. Half of them sprang to -their feet, and all aimed their shining points at the poor young Hoosier -patriot, filling the air with shouts of derision. - -It was plain, even to Si in his inflamed state of mind, that the odds -against him were too heavy. - -"Unfix—Bay'net!" came from half the regiment. - -Si concluded he had better get out of a bad scrape the best way he -could. So he took off his bayonet and put it back in its place. He -shouted words of defiance to his tormentors, but they could not be heard -in the din. - -"Shoulder—Arms!" "Right—Face!" "Right shoulder shift—Arms!" -"Forward—March!" These commands came in quick succession from the ranks -amidst roars of laughter. - -Si obeyed the orders and started off. - -"Left—left—left!" - -"Hayfoot—strawfoot!" - -Forgetting his blisters. Si took the double-quick while the mob swung -their caps and howled with delight. - -Si didn't "ketch up" with the 200 Ind. until after it had gone into -camp. Shorty had a quart of hot coffee waiting for him. - -"Shorty," said Si as they sat by the fire,—"I'm goin' to drop dead in my -tracks before I'll fall out again." - -"Why, what's the matter?" - -"Oh, nothin'; only you jest try it," said Si. - -Had it not been for the "fun" the soldiers had in the army to brighten -their otherwise dark and cheerless lives, they would all have died. Si -was a true type of those who had to suffer for the good of others until -they learned wisdom in the school of experience. - - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. SI AND THE MULES ONE DAY'S RICH EXPERIENCE AS COMPANY -TEAMSTER. - -"I'VE GOT to have a man to drive team for a few days," said the Orderly -of Co. Q of the 200th Ind. one morning at roll-call. "The teamster's -sick and I'm goin' to send him to the hospital to-day." - -The Orderly-Sergeant of Co. Q was a wily fellow. All Orderly-Sergeants -have to be. If they are not naturally, they learn it very quickly, or -lose the little diamond on their sleeves, if not all their stripes. The -man who undertakes to manage 60 or 75 stalwart, high-spirited young -Americans through all their moods and tenses, and every kind of weather, -has to be as wise as a serpent, though not necessarily as harmless as a -dove. Therefore, the Orderly-Sergeant didn't tell the boys what ailed -the teamster. The fact was that the heels of the "off=wheeler" caught -the teamster in the pit of the stomach and doubled him up so badly that -he wouldn't be fit for duty for a week. It was worse than the green-corn -colic. - -"'Tisn't every man," continued the Orderly, "that's gifted with fust- -class talent fur drivin' team. I'd like to find the best man to steer -them animals, an' if there's a real sientifick mule-whacker in this -comp'ny let him speak up an' I'll detail him right off. It'll be a soft -thing fur somebody; them mules are daises." - -Somehow they didn't all speak at once. The company had only had the team -two or three weeks, but the boys were not dull of hearing, and ominous -sounds had come to them from the rear of the camp at all hours of the -night—the maddening "Yeehaw-w-w!" of the long-eared brutes, and the -frantic ejaculations of the teamster, spiced with oaths that would have -sent a shudder through "our army in Flanders." - -He Let Both Heels Fly 133 - -So they did not apply for the vacant saddle with that alacrity which -might have been expected, when so good a chance was offered for a -soldier to ride and get his traps carried on a wagon. Whenever an -infantryman threw away such an opportunity it is safe to assume that -there was some good reason for it. - -But the idea of riding for a few days and letting his blisters get well -was too much for Si Klegg. Besides, he thought if there was any one -thing he could do better than another it was driving a team. He had been -doing it on his father's farm all his life. It is true, he didn't know -much about mules, but he imagined they were a good deal like horses. - -"I'm your man!" spoke up Si cheerfully. - -"All right," said the Orderly. "Company, Right—Face! Break ranks—March!" - -"There ain't any trouble about it!" Si said to Shorty as they walked -back to the tent. "I reckon it's easy enough to manage mules if you go -at 'em right. It'll be just fun for me to drive team. And say. Shorty, -I'll carry all your traps on my wagon. That'll be a heap better'n totin' -'em!" - -Si gathered up his outfit and started to enter upon his new sphere of -usefulness. - -"Shall I take my gun and bay'net along?" he asked the Orderly. - -"Guess you'd better; they might come handy!" replied the Orderly, as he -thought of the teamster's disastrous encounter with the "off-wheeler." - -After Shorty had eaten his breakfast he thought he would go back to the -tent and see how Si was getting on. With thoughtful care Si had fed his -mules before appeasing his own appetite, and Shorty found him just -waiting for his coffee to cool a bit. - -"Why, them 'ere mules is jist as gentle'n' peaceful-like ez so many -kittens. Look at 'em, Shorty!" and Si pointed with a proud and gratified -air to where the six "daisies" were standing, three on each side of the -wagon-pole, with their noses in the feed-box, quietly munching their -matutinal rations, and whisking their paint-brush tails about in evident -enjoyment. - -Indeed, to look at those mules one who was ignorant of the peculiar -characteristics of the species would not have thought that beneath those -meek exteriors there were hearts filled with the raging fires of total -depravity. Shorty thought how it would be, but he didn't say anything. -He was sure that Si would find out about it soon enough. - -The brigade to which the 200th Ind. belonged was to march in the rear of -the long procession that day. This was lucky for Si, as it gave him an -hour or two more than he would otherwise have had to get hitched up. But -all the same he thought he would begin early, so as to be on hand with -his team in good time. - -"Want any help?" asked Shorty. - -"No," said Si; "I can hitch 'em up slick's a whistle. I can't see why so -many makes sich a fuss 'bout handlin' mules." - -Shorty lighted his cob pipe and sat down on a stump to watch Si. "Kinder -think there'll be a circus!" he said to himself. - -Si got up from his coffee and hardtack, and addressed himself to the -business of the hour. It proved to be just as much as he could attend -to. When Si poured half a bushel of corn into the feed box it was all -very nice, and the animals rubbed their heads against him to give -expression to their grateful emotions. But when it came to putting on -the harness, that was quite a different thing. The mere touch of a strap -was enough to stimulate into baleful activity all the evil passions of -mule-nature. - -"Now, Pete and Jim and Susan, we must git ready to pull out!" said Si to -his charge, in a familiar, soothing tone, preliminary to getting down to -business. It was his evident desire to maintain the friendly relations -that he thought he had already established. At the first rattle of the -harness Pete and Susan and the rest, moved by a common impulse, laid -back their ears and began to bray, their heels at the same time showing -symptoms of impatience. - -"Whoa, there—whoa!" exclaimed Si, in a conciliatory way, as he advanced -with a bridle in his hand toward one of the big wheelers, whose ears -were flapping about like the fans of a windmill. - -Si imprudently crept up from the rear. A flank movement would have been -better. As soon as he had got fairly within range the mule winked -viciously, lowered his head, and let fly both heels. Si was a spry boy, -and a quick dodge saved him from the fate of his predecessor. One of the -heels whizzed past his ear with the speed of a cannon ball, caught his -hat, and sent it spinning through the air. - -Shorty, who was whittling up a piece of Kentucky twist to recharge his -pipe, laughed till he rolled off the stump all in a heap. A few of the -other boys had stayed out to see the fun, and were lounging around the -outskirts of the corral. "Go for 'em, Si!" they shouted. - -Si was plucky, and again advanced with more caution. This time he was -successful, after a spirited engagement, in getting the bridle on. He -thought he would ride him down to the creek for water, and this would -give him a chance to get acquainted with him, as it were. He patted the -animal's neck, called him pet names, and gently stroked his stubby mane. -Alas, Si didn't know then what an utter waste of material it was to give -taffy to an army mule. - -With a quick spring Si vaulted upon the back of the mule. He started off -in good shape, waving his hand exultingly to the boys with the air of a -General who has just won a great battle. - -All at once the animal stopped as suddenly as if he had run against a -stone wall. He planted his fore feet, throwing his ears back and his -head down. There was a simultaneous rear elevation, with the heels at an -upward angle of about 45 degrees. Si went sprawling among the bushes. -This performance was greeted with great enthusiasm by the fast -increasing crowd of spectators. - -Si Went Sprawling 137 - -"I oughter have told you that saddle-mule's the worst bucker in the Army -o' the Ohio," said the Quartermaster-Sergeant, who was among the -onlookers. "Why, he'd buck off the stripe that runs down his back, if he -took it into his measly head. He bucked off a chattel mortgage, and -that's the way he come into the army. You can't ride him without using -one of Aunt Jemima's sticking plasters." - -"Much obliged for your information. But I will ride him all the same," -said Si, whose temper had risen to the exploding point. "I kin ride him -if he ties himself in a double bow-knot." - -Si was too much of a farmer boy to give in to anything that walked on -four legs. - -He had hung on to the bridle rein, and after addressing a few impressive -words to the obstreperous mule he again leaped upon his back. The mule -took a docile turn, his motive having apparently been merely to show Si -what he could do when he took a notion. - -The space at command will not permit us to follow Si through all the -details of "hitching up" that team. He did finally "git thar, Eli," -after much strategic effort. The mules brayed and kicked a good deal, -and Si's wrath was fully aroused before he got through. He became -convinced that soft words were of no account in such a contest, and he -enforced discipline by the judicious use of a big club, together with -such appropriate language as he could think of. Si hadn't yet learned to -swear with that wonderful and appalling proficiency that was so soon -acquired by the army teamsters. In the management of mules profanity was -considered an invaluable accessory in times of great emergency. - -At last Si climbed into the saddle, as proud as a King. Seizing the -long, single line running to the "leaders"—by which contrivance the army -team was always guided—he shouted "Git up, thar, Pete! G'lang Susan!" -and the caravan started. But the unregenerated brutes didn't go far. Si -was gaily cracking his whip, trying to hit a big blue-bottle fly that -was perched on the ear of one of the "swing" mules. - -As if by a preconcerted plan, the establishment came to a sudden halt -and the mules began to rear and kick and plunge around in utter -disregard of consequences. It didn't take more than a minute for them to -get into a hopeless tangle. They were in all conceivable shapes—heads -and tails together, crosswise and "every which way," tied up with the -straps of the harness. The air in all directions was full of heels. -There was a maddening chorus of discordant braying. - -In the course of the scrimmage Si found himself on the ground. Gathering -himself up, he gazed in utter amazement at the twisted, writhing mass. -At this moment a messenger came from the Captain to "hurry up that -team," and poor Si didn't know what to do. He wished he could only swear -like the old mule drivers. He thought it would make him feel better. -There was no one to help him out of his dilemma, as the members of the -company were all getting ready for the march. - -A veteran teamster happened along that way, and took in the situation at -a glance. He saw that Si had bit off more than he could chew, and -volunteered his assistance. - -"Here, young feller," said he, "lemme show ye how to take the stiffenin' -out o' them ere dod-gasted mules!" - -Seizing the whip at the small end of the stock he began laying on right -and left with the butt, taking care to keep out of range of the heels. -During these persuasive efforts he was shouting at the top of his voice -words that fairly hissed through the air. Si thought he could smell the -brimstone and see the smoke issuing from the old teamster's mouth and -nostrils. This is a section of what that experienced mule driver said, -as nearly as we can express it: - -"_________;;_____________!!!***???!!!! ____???________???!!!!" - -Si thanked the veteran for these timely suggestions in the way of -language, and said he would remember them. He had no doubt they would -help him out the next time. - -They finally got the team untied, and Si drove over to the company -ground. The regiment had been gone some time, a detail having been left -to load the wagon. After getting out upon the road the mules plodded -along without objection, and Si got on famously. But having lost his -place in the column in consequence of the delay, he was obliged to fall -in rear of the division train, and it was noon before he got well -started. - -Along towards evening Si struck a section of old corduroy road through a -piece of swamp. The passage of the artillery and wagons had left the -road in a wretched condition. The logs were lying at all points of the -compass, or drifting vaguely about in the mire, while here and there -were seas of water and pits of abysmal depth. - -Stuck in the Mud 141 - -To make the story short, Si's mules stumbled and floundered and -kicked,—while Si laid on with the whip and used some of the words he had -learned from the old teamster before starting. - -At length the wagon became hopelessly stalled. The wheels sank to the -hubs, and Si yelled and cracked his whip in vain. Perhaps if he had had -the old teamster there to swear for him he could have pulled through, -but as it was he gave it up, dismounted, hunted a dry spot, and sat down -to think and wait for something to turn up. - -Just before dark a large detail from Co. Q, which had been sent back on -an exploring expedition for Si and his team, reached the spot. After -hours of prying and pushing and tugging and yelling they at length got -the wagon over the slough, reaching camp about midnight. - -"Orderly," said Si, "I believe I'd like to resign my place as mule- -driver. It's a nice, soft thing, but I'd jest as lief let s'mother -feller have it, so I'll take my gun an' go to hoofin' it agin!" - - - - - -CHAPTER XV. UNDER FIRE—SI HAS A FIGHT, CAPTURES A PRISONER AND GETS -PROMOTED. - -"SEEMS to me it's 'bout time ter be gitt' into a fite!" said Si Klegg to -Shorty one night as they sat around the fire after supper, with their -shoes and stockings off, comparing the size and number of their -respective blisters. Neither of them had much of the skin they started -out with left on their feet. "I always s'posed," he continued, "that -bein' a sojer meant fitin' somebody; and here we are roaming over the -country like a lot of tramps. I can't see no good in it, nohow." - -"Don't be in a hurry. Si," replied Shorty; "I reckon we'll ketch it soon -'nuff. From what I've hearn the old soldiers tell a battle ain't such a -funny thing as a feller thinks who don't know anything about it, like -you'n me. The boys is always hungry at first for shootin' and bein' shot -at, but I've an idee that it sorter takes away their appetite when they -gits one square meal of it. They don't hanker after it no more. It's -likely we'll git filled full one o' these days. I'm willin' to wait!" - -"Wall," said Si, "I sh'd think we might have a little skirmish, anyway. -I'd like to have a chance to try my gun and to hear what kind of a noise -bullets make. Of course, I'd ruther they'd hit some other feller besides -me, but I'm ready to take the chances on that. I don't b'lieve I'd be -afeard." - -Si was ambitious, and full of the martial ardor that blazed in the -breast of every young volunteer. He was really glad when the Orderly -came around presently and told them that the 200th Ind. would have the -advance next day, and Co. Q would be on the skirmish-line. He told the -boys to see that their cartridge-boxes were all full and their guns in -good order, as they would be very like to run foul of the rebels. - -This was just before the battle of Perryville. The rebels were very -saucy, and there seemed to be a fair prospect that the curiosity of the -members of the 200th Ind. to "see the elephant" would be at least -measurably gratified. - -Before Si went to bed he cleaned up his gun and made sure that it would -"go off" whenever he wanted it to. Then he and Shorty crawled under the -blankets, and as they lay "spoon fashion," thinking about what might -happen the next day. Si said he hoped they would both have "lots of -sand." - -All night Si dreamed about awful scenes of slaughter. Before morning he -had destroyed a large part of the Confederate army. - -It was yet dark when the reveille sounded through the camp. Si and -Shorty kicked off the blankets at first blast of bugle, and were -promptly in their places for roll-call. Then, almost in a moment, a -hundred fires were gleaming, and the soldiers gathered around them to -prepare their hasty breakfast. - -Before the sun was up the bugles rang out again upon the morning air. In -quick succession came the "general," the "assembly," and "to the -colors." The 200th marched out upon the pike, but soon filed off into a -cornfield to take its assigned place in the line, for the advance -division was to move in order of battle, brigade front, that day. - -In obedience to orders, Co. Q moved briskly out and deployed as -skirmishers, covering the regimental front. As the line advanced through -field and thicket Si Klegg's heart was not the only one that thumped -against the blouse that covered it. - -It was not long till a squad of cavalrymen came galloping back, yelling -that the rebels were just ahead. The line was halted for a few minutes; -while the Generals swept the surrounding country with their field -glasses and took in the situation. - -The skirmishers, for fear of accidents, took advantage of such cover as -they could find. Si and Shorty found themselves to leeward of a large -stump. - -"D'ye reckon a bullet 'd go through this 'ere stump?" said Si. - -Before Shorty could answer something else happened that absorbed their -entire attention. For the time they didn't think of anything else. - -'Boom-m-m-m!' - -"Great Scott! d'ye hear that?" said Si through his chattering teeth. - -"Yes, and there's somethin' comin' over this way," replied Shorty. - -A shell came screaming and swishing through the air. The young Hoosiers -curled around the roots of that stump and flattened themselves out like -a pair of griddle-cakes. If it was Si that the rebel gunners were after, -they timed the shell to a second, for it burst with a loud bang just -over them. The fragments flew all around, one striking the stump and -others tearing up the dirt on every side. - -It Burst With a Loud 'bang.' 145 - -To say that for the moment those two soldiers were demoralized would be -drawing it very mildly. They showed symptoms of a panic. It seemed as -though they would be hopelessly stampeded. Their tongues were paralyzed, -and they could only look silently into each other's white faces. - -Si was the first to recover himself, although it could hardly be -expected that he could get over his scare all at once. - -"D-d-did it hit ye, Sh-Shorty?" he said. - -"N-no, I guess not; b-b-but ain't it aw-awful. Si? You look so bad I th- -thought you was k-k-killed!" - -"Who's afeard?" said Si. "I was only skeered of you. Shorty. Brace up, -now same's I do!" - -"Skirmishers—Forward!" was heard along the line. "Come on, Shorty!" said -Si, and they plunged bravely ahead. - -Emerging suddenly from a thick wood, they came upon the rebel -skirmishers in full view, posted on the opposite side of the field. - -Crack! Crack!—Zip! Zip! - -"Guess there's a bee-tree somewhere around here, from the way the bees -are buzzin'," said Si. - -"'Taint no bees," replied Shorty; "it's a mighty sight worse'n that. -Them's bullets, Si Don't ye see the dumed galoots over yonder a-shootin' -at us?" - -Si was no coward, and he was determined to show that he wasn't. The -shell a little while before had taken the starch out of him for a few -minutes, but that was nothing to his discredit. Many a seasoned veteran -found himself exceedingly limber under such circumstances. - -"Let's give the rascals a dose," said he; "the best we've got in stock!" - -Suiting the action to the word, Si crept up to a fence, thrust his gun -between the rails, took good aim and fired. - -Si Takes a Crack at A Reb 147 - -A bullet from one of the other fellows made the splinters fly from a -rail a foot or two from Si's head; but he was getting excited now, and -he didn't mind it any more than if it had been a paper wad from a pea- -shooter. - -It makes a great difference with a soldier under fire whether he can -take a hand in the game himself, or whether he must lie idle and let the -enemy "play it alone." - -"Did ye hear him squeal?" said Si, as he dropped upon the ground and -began to reload with all his might. "I hit that son-of-a-gun, sure. Give -'em H—Hail Columbia, Shorty. We'll show 'em that the 200th Ind. is in -front to-day!" - -"Forward, men!" shouted the officers. "Go right for 'em!" - -The skirmishers sprang over the fence and swept across the field at a -"double-quick" in the face of a sputtering fire that did little damage. -None of them reached the other side any sooner than Si did. The rebels -seemed to have found out that the 200th boys were coming, for they were -already on the run, and some of them had started early. Pell-mell -through the brush they went, and the blue-blouses after them. - -"Halt, there, or I'll blow ye into the middle o' next week!" yelled Si, -as he closed up on a ragged specimen of the Southern Confederacy whose -wind had given out. Si thought it would be a tall feather in his hat if -he could take a prisoner and march him back. - -Si Captures a Johnny 149 - -The "Johnny" gave one glance at his pursuer, hesitated, and was lost. He -saw that Si meant business, and surrendered at discretion. - -"Come 'long with me!" said Si, his eyes glistening with pleasure and -pride. Si marched him back and delivered him to the Colonel. - -"Well done, my brave fellow!" said the Colonel. - -"This is a glorious day for the 200th Ind., and you've taken its first -prisoner. What's your name my boy?" - -"Josiah Klegg, sir!" said Si, blushing to the very roots of his hair. - -"What company do you belong to?" - -"Company Q, sir!" and Si saluted the officer as nicely as he knew how. - -"I'll see your Captain to-night, Mr. Klegg, and you shall be rewarded -for your good conduct. You may now return to your company." - -It was the proudest moment of Si's life up to date. He stammered out his -thanks to the Colonel, and then, throwing his gun up to a right -shoulder-shift, he started off on a canter to rejoin the skirmishers. - -That night Si Klegg was the subject of a short conversation between his -Captain and the Colonel. They agreed that Si had behaved very -handsomely, and deserved to be promoted. - -"Are there any vacancies in your non-commissioned officers?" asked the -Colonel. - -"No," was the reply, "but there ought to be. One of my Corporals skulked -back to the rear this morning and crawled into a wagon. I think we had -better reduce him to the ranks and appoint Mr. Klegg." - -"Do so at once," said the Colonel. - -Next morning when the 200th was drawn up in line an order was read by -the Adjutant reducing the skulker and promoting Si to the full rank of -Corporal, with a few words commending the gallantry of the latter. These -orders announcing rewards and punishments were supposed to have a -salutary effect in stimulating the men to deeds of glory, and as a -warning to those who were a little short of "sand." - -Corporal si Klegg 151 - -The boys of Co. Q showered their congratulations upon Si in the usual -way. They made it very lively for him that day. In the evening: Si -hunted up some white cloth, borrowed a needle and thread, went off back -of the tent, rammed his bayonet into the ground, stuck a candle in the -socket, and sewed chevrons on the sleeves of his blouse. Then he wrote a -short letter: - -"Deer Annie: I once more take my pen in hand to tell you there's grate -news. I'm an ossifer. We had an awful fite yisterdy. I don't know how -menny rebbles I kild, but I guess thare was enuff to start a good sized -graveyard. I tuk a prizner, too, and the Kurnal says to me bully fer -you, Mister Klegg, or sumthin to that effeck. This mornin they made me a -Corporil, and red it out before the hull rijiment I guess youd been -prowd if you could have seen me. To-night the boys is hollerin hurraw -fer Corporal Klegg all over camp. I ain't as big is the Ginrals and gum -of the other ossifers, but thars no tellin how hi I'll get in three -years. - -"Rownd is the ring that haint no end, So is my luv to you my friend. - -"Yours, same as before, - -"Corporal Si Klegg." - - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. ONE OF THE "NON-COMMISH" A NIGHT'S ADVENTURES AS "CORPORAL -OF THE GUARD." - -"CORPORAL Klegg, you will go on duty to-night with the camp guard!" said -the Orderly of Co. Q one evening, as the 200th Ind. filed off into a -piece of woods to bivouac for the night, two or three days after Si had -been promoted. - -The chevrons on his arms had raised Si several degrees in the estimation -not only of himself, but of the other members of the company. His -conduct in the skirmish had shown that he had in him the material for a -good soldier, and even the Orderly began to treat him with that respect -due to his new rank as one of the "non-commish." - -Like every other man who put on the army blue and marched away so bold, -"With gay and gallant tread," Si could not tell whether he was going to -amount to anything as a soldier until he had gone through the test of -being under fire. There were many men who walked very erect, talked -bravely, drilled well, and made a fine appearance on dress parade, -before they reached "the front," but who wilted at the "zip" of bullets -like tender corn blades nipped by untimely frost. And a good many of -them continued in that wilted condition. Perhaps they really couldn't -help it. An inscrutable Providence had seen fit to omit putting any -"sand in their gizzards," as the boys expressed it. - -It must be confessed that Si was somewhat unduly elated and puffed up -over, his own achievements as a skirmisher and his success in climbing -the ladder of military rank and fame. It is true, it wasn't much of a -fight they had that day, but Si thought it was pretty fair for a -starter, and enough to prove to both himself and his comrades that he -wouldn't be one of the "coffee coolers" when there was business on hand. - -Si was sorry that his regiment did not get into the fight at Perryville. -The 200th Ind. belonged to one of the two corps of Buell's army that lay -under the trees two or three miles away all through that October -afternoon, while McCook's gallant men were in a life-and-death struggle -against overwhelming odds. It bothered Si as much to understand it all -as it did 30,000 other soldiers that day. - -Si responded with alacrity when he was detailed for guard duty. He had -walked a beat once or twice as a common tramp, and had not found it -particularly pleasant, especially in stormy weather; but now he was a -peg higher, and he thought as Corporal he would have a better time. He -had already observed that the rude winds of army life were tempered, if -not to the shorn lambs, at least to the officers, in a degree -proportionate to their rank. The latter had the first pick of -everything, and the men took what was left. The officers always got the -softest rails to sleep on, the hardtack that was least tunneled through -by the worms, the bacon that had the fewest maggots, and the biggest -trees in a fight. - -"Forward—March!" shouted the officer in command, when the detachment was -ready. Si stepped off very proudly, thinking how glad his good old -mother and sister Marier and pretty Annabel would be if they could see -him at that moment. He was determined to discharge his official duties -"right up to the handle," and make the boys stand around in lively -style. - -When the guard reached the place selected for headquarters the officer -drily lectured them in regard to their duties, impressing upon them the -necessity of being alert and vigilant. There was only a thin picket-line -between them and the enemy. The safety of the army depended upon the -faithfulness of those appointed to watch while others slept. He gave -them the countersign, "Bunker Hill," and ordered them under no -circumstances to allow any person to pass without giving it, not even -the Commanding General himself. - -Then the guards were posted, the "beats" laid off and numbered, and as -the fast-gathering shadows deepened among the trees the sentinels paced -to and fro around the tired army. - -For an hour or two after the guards were stationed all was quiet along -the line. The noise of the great camp was hushed for the night, and no -sound broke the stillness of the gloomy forest. The moon rose and peeped -timidly through the branches. - -"Corporal of the Guard; Post No. 6." - -Si's quick ear, as he lay curled up at the foot of a tree, caught these -words, rapidly repeated by one sentinel after another. It was his first -summons. He sprang to his feet, gun in hand, his heart beating at the -thought of adventure, and started on the run for "Post No. 6." - -"What's up?" he said to the guard, with a perceptible tremor in his -voice. - -"There's one o' the boys tryin' to run the guards!" was the answer. -"He's been out foragin', I reckon. He's got a lot o' plunder he wants to -git into camp with. See him, out there in the bush?" - -The forager, for such he proved to be, was nimbly dodging from tree to -tree, watching for a chance to cross the line, but the alertness of the' -guards had thus far kept him outside. He had tried to bribe one or two -of the boys by offering to "whack up" if they would let him pass or give -him the countersign, so that he could get in at some other point in the -cordon. But the guards were incorruptible. They were "fresh" yet, and -had not caught on to the plan of accepting an offered chicken, a section -of succulent pig, or a few sweet potatoes, and then walking off to the -remote limit of the beat, with eyes to the front, while the forager shot -across the line in safety. They learned all about this after a while. - -The raider tried to parley with Si, but Si wouldn't have it. Raising his -gun to a "ready" he ordered the man to come in or he would put a hole -through him. - -The best thing to do under the circumstances was to obey. The forager, -who belonged to Si's company, crept up to Corporal Klegg and in a -conciliatory tone opened negotiations. - -"You jest let me pass, and you may have your pick of this stuff," said -he, holding up a fowl in one hand and a ham in the other. "It'll be all -right, and nobody 'll ever know nothin' 'bout it!" - -Si hesitated; it was human nature. The offer was a tempting one, but he -remembered his responsibility to his country, and his stomach appealed -in vain. Duty came before stewed chicken or roasted sparerib. - -"Can't do it!" said Si. "You've got hold of the wrong man this time. I -ain't goin' to have nobody monkeyin' 'round while I'm Corporal of this -'ere guard. Come along with me, and step out lively, too!" - -Si marched the culprit back to headquarters and delivered him up to the -officer, who commended Si for his fidelity. - -Next day the ground back of the Colonel's tent was strewn with feathers, -chicken bones, ham rinds, and potato skins, while the unlucky forager -who had provided the field officers' mess with such a royal meal was -humped around for two hours on "knapsack drill," and condemned to spend -24 hours in the guard-house. - -An hour later Si had another experience. The Captain of Co. Q felt a -kindly interest, and not a little pride in him, since the skirmish, and -he thought he would take a turn that night and see whether his newly- -made Corporal was "up to snuff." - -"Post No. 3," was Si's second call. He responded promptly, and as he -approached the guard the latter said: - -"Corporal, here's the Cap'n, and he wants to get in! He hain't got the -countersign; shall I pass him?" - -"Good evening. Corporal!" said the Captain, as Si came up, at the same -time extending his hand. - -Si was thrown completely off his guard. Dropping the butt of his gun -carelessly to the ground he replied cheerily, "Good evening, Cap'n," -touching his hat by way of salute. Then he took the proffered hand, -pleased at the Captain's mark of kindly recognition. He didn't -understand the scheme then. "How are you getting on, Mr. Klegg?" "First -rate!" said Si, with the air of one conscious that he had done his duty -well. "I capchered a forager a little bit ago and took him to -headquarters!" - -One of the 'non-com Mish.' 159 - -"Well done, Corporal I have no doubt you will honor the good name of the -200th Ind. in general and Company Q in particular, I got caught outside -to night, and I want to get back into camp. Of course, you know me and -it's all right!" - -"Certainly, sir!" said Si, as he stood leaning on his gun and allowed -the officer to pass the magic line. "Good night, Cap'n!" - -"Good night, Corporal! By the way," said the Captain, retracing his -steps, "I notice that you do not carry your gun just right. Let me show -you how to handle it!" - -Si didn't know what a flagrant offense it was for a soldier on guard to -let his gun go out of his hands; nor had he the faintest suspicion that -the Captain was playing it on him. So he promptly handed his picee to -the Captain, who immediately brought it down to a "charge," with the -bayonet at Si's breast. - -"Suppose, now, I was a rebel in disguise," said the Captain, "what kind -of a fix would you be in?" - -Light began to dawn upon Si, and he started back in terror at the -thought of the mistake he had made. - -"Of course, I wouldn't let anybody else have it," he stammered; "but I -knew you, Cap'n!" - -"That makes no difference to a man on duty. Corporal. You hang on to -your gun the rest of the night, and if anybody—I don't care if it's Gen. -Buell himself—insists on your giving it to him, let him have two or -three inches of the point of your bayonet. Don't let anybody pass -without the countersign, either! Come to my quarters when you are -relieved tomorrow." - -All this illustrates the way the officers had of testing new soldiers -and teaching them a thing or two, when, as was frequently the case, they -were not yet up to the mark. A trick of extra duty for the hapless -novitiate was generally the penance for his simplicity. - -The cold chills ran up and down Si's back as he took his gun and slowly -returned to the guard fire. He felt that he had utterly spoiled his good -record. - -"Lieutenant," he said to the officer, "I wish you'd please detail a man -to kick me for about an hour." - -The Lieutenant wanted to know what the matter was, and Si told him all -about it, ending with: - -"So now I s'pose the Cap'n 'll yank the stripes off'n my blouse!" - -The officer quieted his fears by assuring him that there was no cause -for alarm. The Captain knew that he was trying to do his duty, and what -he had done was for Si's own good. - -Si sat down by the fire and was thinking it over when there was another -call, "Corporal of the guard!" He was soon at the point indicated and -found two officers on horseback, whom he recognized as the Colonel and -Adjutant of the 200th Ind. Si's friend Shorty was the guard who had -halted them. - -"Now, Corporal Klegg," said Si to himself, laying his finger alongside -his nose, "you jist watch out this time. Here's big game! Shouldn't -wonder if them ossifers had bin out skylarkin', and they're tryin' to -git in. Don't ye let 'em fool ye as the Cap'n did!" - -Si was right in his surmise. The Colonel and Adjutant had been enjoying -a good supper at a house half a mile away, and had not the slightest -idea what the countersign was. - -Si was determined not to "get left" this time. As he approached, the -Colonel saw that it was soldier he had commended for his gallantry at -the time of the skirmish. - -"Ah, Corporal Klegg, I'm glad to see you so prompt in your duty. I was -sure we had made no mistake when we promoted you. Of course, you can see -who I am. I'm your Colonel, and this is the Adjutant. We are, -unfortunately, outside without the countersign; but you can just let us -through." - -The Colonel's taffy had no effect on Si. He just brought himself into a -hostile attitude, with his bayonet in fair range of the Colonel, as he -replied: - -"Colonel, my orders is to pass no livin' man unless he says 'Bunker -Hill.' I'd be glad to do ye a good turn, but there's no use talkin'. I'm -goin' to obey orders, and ye can't pass here." - -'not 'less Ye Say 'bunker Hill.'' 155 - -The Colonel chuckled softly as he dismounted and came up to Si. - -"It's all right," he said, "of course I know what the countersign is. I -was only trying you." - -"Hold on there," said Si, "don't come too close. If you've got the -countersign, advance and give it. If ye ain't got it, I'll jest call the -Officer of the Guard!" - -Leaning over the point of Si's bayonet the Colonel gently whispered -"Bunker Hill". - -"Correct!" said Si, and bringing his gun to a shoulder, he respectfully -saluted the Colonel. The latter started to remount, but turned back as -he said: - -"Just let me show you how to hold your gun. You don't—" - -"Not if the court knows herself," said Si, again menacing the Colonel -with his bayonet. "That's bin played on me once to-night, and if anybody -does it again my name ain't Si Klegg!" - -"That's right, Corporal," said the Colonel as he sprang into the saddle; -"but don't tell anybody what the countersign is again! Good night!" - -"Good night. Colonel," said Si, touching his hat. As the officers rode -away Si began to think he had put his foot in it again. He was confirmed -in this opinion by seeing Shorty sit down on a log in a paroxysm of -laughter. - -"You give yerself away bad this time!" said Shorty, as soon as he could -speak. "What did ye tell him the countersign for?" - -"Whew-w-w-w!" observed Si, with a prolonged whistle. "Shorty," said he, -"I wish you'd take a club and see if you can't pound a little sense into -me; I don't believe I've got any!" Without another word he shouldered -his gun and returned to the guard headquarters. "Now I'm a goner, sure!" -he said to himself. - -On his way he found a guard sitting by a tree, sound asleep. Carefully -taking away his gun Si awoke him, and frightened him half to death by -telling him that he would report him and he would be shot for sleeping -on post. Si finally said he wouldn't tell on him this time, but he must -never do so again, or he would be a dead man. - -"Corporal of the guard!" was heard again, sometime after midnight. "If -they try any more measly tricks on me to-night somebody 'll git hurt!" -thought Si as he walked briskly along the line in response to the call. - -This time it was a "contraband"—an old negro, who stood shivering with -terror as the guard held him at the point of the bayonet. Recalling the -unlucky adventures of the night. Si imagined that it was one of the -officers, who had blackened himself like a minstrel, and had come there -purposely to "catch him." - -"Ye can't get through unless ye've got the counter sign," said he, -decisively; "and I shan't give it to ye, nuther! And ye needn't try to -show me how to hold my gun! I can handle it well enough to shoot and -punch the Bayonet!" - -"Don't know what dat all means, boss," said the frightened negro; "but -fer de good Lawd's sake don't shove dat t'ing frew me. I've only bin -ober to de nex' place to a 'possum roast and I'se jist gwine home. I -didn't know dese yer ge-yards was heah!" - -Si didn't propose to take any chances, and so he marched the old -contraband back and delivered him to the officer, who kept him till -morning and then suffered him to go on his way. - -Once more that night Si was called, in addition to his tramps with the -"reliefs" and the "grand rounds." It was, perhaps, an hour before -daylight, and Shorty was the guard who called him. He told Si there was -something walking around in the woods, and he believed it was a rebel -trying to creep up on them. He had challenged two or three times, but -got no answer. The moon had gone down, and in the dark woods objects at -any distance could not be distinguished. - -"There, d'ye hear that?" said Shorty, as there came a sound of crackling -sticks and rustling leaves. - -"Halt!" exclaimed Si. "Who comes there?" - -There was no response, and Si challenged again with like result. - -"Shorty," said Si, "let's fire both together," and crack went their -muskets. - -For a moment there was a great floundering, and then all was still. As -soon as it was light, and Shorty was relieved, he and Si went out to see -the result of their fire. To their astonishment they found the prowler -cold and stiff in death—they had shot a big gray mule. - -They Had Shot a Mule 163 - -On the whole, it was a busy and interesting night for Si. He did not -lose his chevrons on account of his mistakes. But he learned something, -and the lesson was impressed upon his mind by a few kindly words of -caution and advice from the Captain of Co. Q. - - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. FORAGING ON THE WAY SI HAS SOME VARIED EXPERIENCES WITH -SOUTHERN PRODUCTS. - -THE long chase after Bragg from Louisville to the mountains of -southeastern Kentucky was rough on the new troops. It weeded them out -very fast, and in every town through which Buell's army passed the -buildings were turned into hospitals and filled with sick and crippled -soldiers, who had found out early that they were not physically able to -endure the hardships of an active campaign. At the end of two or three -weeks some of the new regiments were as much reduced in numbers as most -of those that went out in '61 were during their first six months. - -The 200th Ind. jogged along bravely, but its ranks had suffered the -common skage. Not less than 400 of its men had fallen by the wayside, -and were taking quinine and blue-mass and rubbing arnica on their legs -all along the tortuous route. - -Corporal Si Klegg and his friend Shorty proved to be "stayers." Full of -life and ambition, they were always prompt for duty and ready for a -fight or a frolic. No one was more quick than Si to offer a suffering -comrade the last drop of fresh water in his canteen or give him a lift -by carrying his gun a piece. - -One day the regiment started out for an easy, comfortable day's march. -The coast was clear of rebels, and there being no excuse for crowding on -the steam, the boys were allowed to take their own gait, while the -horses of the officers and cavalry had a chance to recover their wind. - -It was a warm day late in October. The nights at this time were keen and -frosty, but the sun at mid-day still showed much of his Summer vigor. -Perspiration flowed freely down the faces of those wandering -Hoosiers—faces that were fast assuming the color of half-tanned leather -under the influence of sunshine and storm. - -Once an hour there was the customary halt, when the boys would stretch -their legs by the roadside, hitching their knapsacks up under their -heads. When the allotted time had expired the bugler blew "Fall in," the -notes of which during the next two years became so familiar to the ears -of the 200th. Later in '64, the Indiana boys mingled their voices with -the rest of Sherman's hundred thousand veterans as they sang: - -"I know you are tired, but still you must go Down to Atlanta to see the -big show." - -The soldiers were in good spirits. As they marched they fired jests at -one another, and laughter rippled along the line. - -The only thing that troubled them was the emaciated condition of their -haversacks, with a corresponding state of affairs in their several -stomachs. The Commissary Department was thoroughly demoralized. The -supply train had failed to connect, and rations were almost exhausted. -There was no prospect that the aching void would be filled, at least, in -the regular way, until they reached a certain place, which would not be -until the following day. - -Strict orders against foraging were issued almost daily under the Buell -dispensation. These were often read impressively to the new troops, who, -in their simplicity, "took it all in" as military gospel. - -The 200th Ind. Was Not Without Talent in Foraging 169 - -The effect was somewhat depressing upon the ardor with which otherwise -they would have pursued the panting pig and the fluttering fowl, and -reveled in the orchards and potato-fields. A few irrepressible fellows -managed to get a choice meal now and then—just enough to show that the -200th Ind. was not without latent talent in this direction, which only -needed a little encouragement to become fruitful of results. - -But these orders against foraging didn't hold the soldiers of the crop -of 1861. It was like trying to carry water in a sieve. When rations were -short, or if they wanted to vary the rather monotonous bill of fare, -they always found a way to make up any existing deficiency. - -On the day in question a few hints were thrown out which resulted in a -tacit understanding that, in view of the actual need of the soldiers, if -they got a good chance to pick up something the eyes of the officers -would be closed. In fact, the officers were as hungry as the men, and -hoped to come in for a "divide." - -Soon after starting in the morning a persimmon tree, well laden with -fruit, was seen in a field not far from the road. About fifty men -started for it on a run, and in five minutes it was as bare as the -barren fig tree. - -The persimmon has some very marked peculiarities. It is a toothsome -fruit when well ripened by frost, but if eaten before it has reached the -point of full maturity, the effect upon one's interior is unique and -startling. The pungent juices take hold of the mouth and pucker it up in -such manner as to make even speech for a time impossible. The tongue -seems as if it were tied in a knot. If the juice be swallowed, similar -results follow all along its course. But the novice does not often get -far enough for that. - -The boys soon found that the 'simmons, although they looked very -tempting, were too green to be eaten with any degree of enjoyment. So -they filled their pockets with them to pucker up the regiment. - -Shorty had joined in the scramble, telling Si he would bring him a good -supply. - -"Ain't them nice?" he said to Si, holding out three or four of the -greenest ones he could find. "Eat 'em; they're jest gorjus! You can't -help likin' 'em." - -Si had never seen any persimmons before. They were certainly tempting to -the eye, and he thought they were sent as manna was supplied to the -children of Israel in the wilderness. - -Eagerly seizing them, Si tossed one into his mouth and began to chew it -with great vigor. The persimmon got in its work at once. It took hold -with a mighty grip, wrinkling him up like the skins on scalded milk. - -After sputtering vigorously a few minutes, while Shorty laughed at him. -Si managed to get his tongue untwisted. - -"Yes," said he, "them things is nice—in a horn! 'Twouldn't take many of -'em to make a meal!" - -A little farther on Si's quick eye noticed a row of beehives standing on -a bench in the yard of one of the natives. Si had a weakness for honey. - -"Shorty," said he, "see them hives over there? How'd ye like to have -some honey for supper?" - -Shorty "allowed" that it would be a good thing. Si stopped and waited a -few minutes until his own regiment got past, thinking his plan would be -less liable to interruption. Then he leaped over the fence, went up to -the hives, and boldly tipped one of them over, hoping he could get out a -comb or two, fill up his coffee-kettle, and effect his retreat before -the bees really found out what he was up to. - -But the bees instantly rallied their forces and made a vigorous assault -upon the invader. Si saw that it would be too hot for him, and without -standing upon the order of his going he went at once, in a decidedly -panicky state of mind. The bees made the most of their opportunity, -using their "business ends" on him with great activity and zeal. They -seemed to fully' share the common feeling in the South toward the -"Yanks." - -Si Beat a Retreat 171 - -A pretty woman, standing on the porch, had watched Si's raid from the -doorway. As he fell back in utter rout she screamed "Sarves ye right!" -and then sat down on the doorstep and laughed till she cried. She -enjoyed it as much as the bees did. - -The latter took hold of Si in various places, and by the time he had -caught up with the regiment one eye was closed, and there was a big lump -on his nose, besides several more stings which the bees had judiciously -distributed about his person. It was very evident that he had been -overmatched and had come out second best in the encounter. - -Corporal Klegg presented a picturesque appearance as he reached Co. Q. -The boys fairly yelled with delight. - -"Whar's yer honey?" said Shorty. "Pears like ye waked up the wrong -passenger that time!" - -Si laughed with the rest, rubbed salt on his stings, and plodded on, -consoling himself with the thought that his was not the only case in -which the merit of earnest effort had gone unrewarded. - -Soon after noon the 200th came to a large patch of sweet potatoes. Si -and Shorty, as well as a good many of the rest, thought it would be a -good place to lay in a supply for supper, as they might not have another -So good a chance. From all parts of the column the men, by dozens dashed -into the field. In a moment there was a man at every hill, digging away -with his bayonet, and chucking the tempting tubers into his haversack. - - -173 (74K) - -THERE WAS A MAN AT EVERY HILL - -Two hours before going into camp the regiment passed a small spring, -around which a crowd of soldiers were struggling to fill their canteens. -There had been a long stretch without fresh water, and Si thought he -would supply himself. - -"Gimme your canteen, too, Shorty, and I'll fill it!" he said. - -"Here, Si, you're a bully boy, take mine!" "Mine, too!" "And mine!" said -one after another of his comrades. Si good naturedly complied and they -loaded him down with about 20 canteens. - -Si Being Worked for a 'good Thing.' 175 - -"All right," said Si, "I'll be along with 'em full d'reckly!" - -He had to wait for his turn at the spring, and by the time he had filled -all the canteens he was half an hour behind. Slinging them around his -neck he started on, with just about as big a load as he could carry. - -Si forged ahead, gradually gaining a little, through the tardy movement -of the column that generally preceded going into camp. The canteen -straps chafed his shoulders, his back ached, and perspiration streamed -from every pore. The smoke of the campfires ahead told that the end of -the day's march was near. He kept on and finally came up with Co. Q just -as the 200th was stacking arms on the bank of a clear stream. - -Si threw down his burdens of canteens, himself thoroughly blown and -well-nigh exhausted. - -"Purty good load, wasn't it, Si?" said Shorty. "But what made ye lug all -that water in here? When ye saw they was goin' into camp ahead ye might -ha' knowed there was plenty o' water. Why in blazes didn't ye turn the -water out o' them 'ere canteens?" - -"I'll be hanged if I thought o' that!" said Si, while the boys joined in -a hearty laugh. - -At the command "Break ranks" there was a general scamper to engage in -the work of getting supper and preparing to spend the night with as much -comfort as possible. The members of each mess scattered in all -directions for water, rails, straw, etc., while some went out to scour -the adjacent region for edibles. - -These exercises the soldiers always entered into with the heartiest -gusto, and the scene will be well remembered by all those who marched. - -Si threw off his traps and dropped on the ground to rest a few minutes. -He got up presently to scratch around with the rest. As he took hold of -his haversack he was surprised at its lightness. When he laid it down it -was bulging out with sweet potatoes, and a glance showed him that these -were all gone. - -"Dern my buttons!" exclaimed Si, as he forgot his weariness, and his -eyes flashed fire. "If I am a Corporal, I kin jest mash the feller that -stole my 'taters, I don't keer if he's ten foot high. Won't somebody -show 'im to me? There won't be 'nuff of 'im left to hold a fun'ral -over?" - -Si pranced around in a high state of inflammation, and it is probable -that if he had found the purloiner of his provender there would have -been a harder fight than any that occurred between Buell and Bragg. - -The boys winked slyly at one another, and all said it was too bad. It -was a startling case of turpitude, and Si determined to have revenge by -getting even with some other fellow, without pausing to consider the -questions of moral philosophy involved. - -"Come 'long with me. Shorty!" he said to his friend, and they strode -away. Just outside the camp they came upon two members of some other new -regiment coming into camp with a fine pig slung over a pole and two or -three chickens in their hands. Shorty suggested to Si that this was a -good chance for him to even up. - -"Halt, there!" shouted Si to the foragers. "We're sent out to pick up -such fellows as you!" - -The effect was like a discharge from a masked battery. The men dropped -their plunder and fled in wild confusion. - -"Take hold 'o that pole, Shorty!" said Si, and laying it upon their -shoulders they made a triumphant entry into camp. - -There seemed to be no danger of immediate starvation in the ranks of the -200th. Each man appeared to have supplied himself during the day. On -every hand fires gleamed brightly in the gathering twilight, and around -them crowded the hungry soldiers, intent upon the simple culinary -processes incident to the evening meal. - - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. A SUNDAY OFF SI AND SHORTY GET A MUCH-NEEDED WASH-UP. - -"YOU can take it easy to-day, boys, for we ain't goin' to move!" said -the Orderly of Co. Q one morning at roll-call. "The orders is for to put -the camp in nice shape, and for the men to wash up. We're goin' to have -an extra ration of soap this mornin', and you fellows want to stir -around lively and fix yerselves as if it was Sunday and ye was goin' to -meetin'. The fust thing after breakfast all hands 'll turn out and -p'leece ther camp." - -"What in the world does he mean by p'leecin' the camp?" Corporal Klegg -asked Shorty, as they stood by the fire making coffee and warming up the -fragments of chicken that had been left over from supper the night -before. "I didn't c'pose," said Si, "that we 'listed to be p'leecemen!" - -Shorty replied that he didn't know, but he reckoned they'd find out soon -enough. The 200th Ind. had been on the jump every day since leaving -Louisville, and this was the first time it had been called on to -"police" a camp. - -As soon as breakfast was over the Orderly directed each man to provide -himself with a small bundle of sticks, made by putting together a dozen -bits of brush or "switches" three or four feet long, such as are used to -rural pedagogs to enforce discipline. These, he said, were the -implements used in policing camp, which meant brushing the leaves and -loose debris outside the grounds. - -"Does Corprils have to do that sort o' thing?" asked Si. He thought army -regulations and camp usage ought to show some consideration for his -rank. "What's the use of bein' a Corporil," he said to himself, "if it -don't give a feller a chance to play off once in a while?" - -"Corporals ain't no better'n anybody else," replied the Orderly, "'n' -you can jist git some brush and go to work, 'long with the rest!" - -Si was disposed to grumble a little, but he obeyed orders and was soon -scratching up the leaves and dust with great zeal. He did not find it a -particularly pleasant occupation, but the camp looked so much better -when the job was done, that he thought it was not a bad thing, after -all. - -"Now, Shorty," said Si, "let's go down to the creek and do our washin'. -My clothes has got to be biled, and I shouldn't wonder if yourn had, -too." - -"Yes, that's a fact!" said Shorty. - -They got a big camp-kettle that had been used, and would be again, for -making bean-soup, and started for the stream back of the camp. They had -no change of clothing with them. Some days before, in order to lighten -their knapsacks, they had taken out their extra shirts and drawers, tied -them in a bundle, and put them on the company wagon, and this was -somewhere back in the rear, owing to the confusion of the campaign. - -"Seems to me," observed Si, "it ain't hardly a fair shake for Uncle Sam -to make us do our washin'. They ought to confiscate the niggers 'n' set -them at it; or I don't see why the Guvyment can't furnish a washin' -masheen for each comp'ny! 'Twouldn't be no more'n the square thing!" - -Si Was Disposed to Grumble 181 - -"The wimmen does the washin', ye know, Si, up where we live," said -Shorty, "'n' I don't quite like the notion o' doin' that kind o' workt, -but I can't jest see how we're goin' to git out of it. It's got to be -done, that's sure!" - -On the bank of the stream they quickly threw off their clothes for a -bath. Si cast rueful glances at his nether garments as he laid them on -the ground. - -"Hadn't we better pile some rocks on 'em, Shorty?" said he. I'm affeared -if we don't they'll crawl off into the bush. - -"Guess we had," replied Shorty. "I b'lieve mine's started already!" - -Having made sure of them, they plunged into the water. Far up and down -the stream were hundreds of men, swimming and splashing about. - -The soldiers availed themselves of every opportunity to enjoy this -luxury. - -Having thoroughly performed their ablutions. Si and Shorty turned their -energies toward the clothes, which were in such sore need of soap and -hot water. Putting their garments into the kettle and filling it with -water, they built a fire under it. After half an hour of vigorous -boiling they concluded they were "done." Plenty of soap, rubbing and -rinsing finished the work, and the clothes sure presented a remarkable -appearance, particularly the blue trousers. - -"How're we going to git 'em dry?" asked Si, as he wrung out the last of -his "wash." - -"Hang 'em on the fence in the sun!" replied Shorty. - -"But what'll we wear while they're dryin'?" - -"Nothin', I reckon!" - -So they spread out their garments, and then dashed again into the water. -After splashing awhile they came out and drew on their half-dried -trousers. Shorty lighted his pipe as they sat down to wait for the -sunshine to do its perfect work. All along the stream were soldiers in -similar stages of dishabille. It seemed like the Garden of Eden. - -Showing the Old Man a Trick 183 - -"Say, Shorty," said Si, "'taint very wicked to smoke, is it?" - -"Guess not!" was the reply. - -"That's the way it 'pears to me, 'n' I've been kinder thinkin' lately -that I'd learn how. The soljers all seem to enjoy their smokin' so much. -You know. Shorty, that I was always a reel good boy—never smoked, nor -chawed terbacker, nor cussed, nor done nothin' that was out o' the -straight an' narrer way. When I jined the regiment my good old mother -says to me: 'Now, Si,' says she, 'I do hope ye'll 'member what I've -always taught ye. I've beam 'em tell that they does dretful things in -the army, and I want ye to see if ye can't be as good a boy as ye've -been at home.' Of course, I told her I would, 'n' I mean, ter stick to -it; but I don't b'lieve there's any harm in smokin'. Is it hard to -learn?" - -"Wall, I dunno; I reck'n ye can't most always tell till ye try. Take a -whiff, 'nd see how she goes!" And Shorty handed him his pipe, which he -had just refilled with whittlings of black "navy plug." - -"Derned if I don't try it!" said Si, as he took the pipe and began to -puff with great energy. He made a few wry faces at first, but Shorty -told him to stick to it, and he bravely pulled away while the clouds of -smoke curled above him. - -It was not long till the color left his face, his head was in a whirl, -and his stomach began to manifest eruptive symptoms. - -"Shorty," he gasped, "I'm awful sick. If smokin' makes a feller feel -like this I don't want any more of it in mine." - -"Where's all yer sand ye brag so much about?" said Shorty, laughing. -"You're mighty poor timber for a soljer if ye can't stand a little pipe -o' terbacker like that. You'll get over it purty soon, and it won't -bother ye any next time ye try it." - -Si found that he had on hand about as much as he could manage with his -dizzy head and the rebellion that was so actively going on at a point a -little lower in his physical system. The feeling wore gradually off, -however, and by the time he was able to walk their clothes were well -dried. They proceeded to "dress up," and then returned to camp. - -During the afternoon the camp was visited by natives, black and white, -from the region round about, with corn "pones," alleged pies, boiled -eggs, and truck of various kinds, which they sought to dispose of for a -valuable consideration. They struck a bad crowd, however, in a financial -sense. The members of the 200th Ind. were not at this time in a -condition of opulence. Most of them had spent what money they brought -from home, and they had not been out long enough yet to receive a visit -from the Paymaster. The lank men and scrawny women cried their wares -vociferously, but with indifferent results. The boys wanted the stuff, -but they were "busted," and trade was dull. - -Si looked wistfully at the "pies," and suggested to Shorty a joint -investment. Their purses were nearly empty, but the temptation was too -strong to be resisted. - -"Them looks nice," said Si. They were the first pies he had seen since -leaving home, and his judgment was a little "off." As a matter of fact, -it was only by the greatest stretch of courtesy that they could be -called pies at all. But the word touched Si in a tender spot, and he -only thought of such as his mother used to make. - -Si and Shorty "pooled in" and bought a pie. Impatiently whipping out his -pocket knife Si tried to cut it in two. It was hard work, for the -"crust"—so called—was as tough as the hide of a mule. By their united -efforts they at length succeeded in sawing it asunder. It was a fearful -and wonderful specimen of culinary effort. It was made of two slabs of -sodden, leathery dough, with a very feeble layer of dried apples -sandwiched between them. - -Si tried his teeth on the pie, but it was like trying to chew an old -boot-leg. - -"I say, old lady," said he, turning to the female of whom he had bought -it, "is these pies pegged or sewed?" - -"Look a hyar, young feller," said the woman, with considerable vinegar -in her tone, "p'raps you-uns-all thinks it's right smart to insult we- -uns; it shows how yer wuz broughten up. I don't 'low yer ever seed any -nicer dog-g-goned pies 'n them is. Ye needn't try ter argify 'long 'th -me, fur I kin jest knock the spots off'n any woman there is 'round here -in cookin'." - -Si saw that it would be profitless to discuss the matter, and concluded -to make the best of a bad bargain. But he wouldn't eat the pie. - -On the whole, the hucksters fared rather badly. The boys confiscated -most of the stuff that was brought in, promising to pay next time they -came that way. There was a good deal of grumbling, but the trouble -always ended in the soldiers getting the plunder. - -The climax was reached when a putty-faced citizen drove into camp a bony -mule tied with straps and ropes and strings to a crazy cart, on which -was a barrel of cider, which he "allowed" to sell out to the boys at 10 -cents a drink, or a quarter a canteen full. He had a spigot rigged up in -one end and an old tin cup, with which he dealt out the seductive -beverage to such as would pay. - -A thirsty crowd gathered around him, but sales were slow, on account of -the scarcity of money. Si and Shorty mingled with the boys, and then -drew aside and engaged in a whispered consultation. - -"That'll be jest bully!" said Shorty. "If you can raise an auger -somewhere we'll git the bulge on that old chap." - -Waiting for Their Clothes to Dry 187 - -Si returned after a brief absence, with an auger which he had borrowed -from the driver of an ammunition wagon. - -"Now, Shorty," said Si, "you git the boys to stand around and keep up a -racket, and I'll crawl under the cart and bore a hole into that 'ere -barrel. Then pass in yer canteens and army kettles 'n' we'll show the -old man a trick!" - -Shorty quietly broached the scheme to a few of his comrades, who fell in -with it at once. Gathering around the cart, they cheered and chattered -so as to drown any noise Si might make while carrying out his plan, and -which would "give it away." - -It was not more than a minute till a gurgling sound was heard, and Si -began to pass out to the boys the buckets and canteens which they so -freely furnished him, filled with the fast-flowing contents of the -barrel. It didn't take long to empty it entirely, nor did the citizen -discover the state of affairs until the cider no longer ran from the -spigot. - -He had not sold more than a gallon or two, and he was amazed when the -liquid ceased to respond. Then he resolved himself into an investigating -committee, and after a protracted search he discovered the trick that -had been played on him. - -"Wall, I'll be gosh-durned!" he exclaimed. "I've hearn tell 'bout Yankee -tricks, but dog my cats if this 'ere don't beat 'em all! I'd like to cut -the gizzard outen the rascal that bored the hole in that bar'l!" - -"I declare, old pard; that was mean!" said Si, who stood looking on, -with his hands in his trousers pockets, the very picture of innocence. -"I'm jist goin' to flax 'round 'n' help ye find that feller. If I was -you I'd pound the stuffin' out of him—when ye cotch him!" - - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. A CLOSE CALL CORPORAL KLEGG HAS AN EXCITING ADVENTURE -GUARDING A FORAGE TRAIN. - -"COMPANY Q's bin detailed to go out 'n' help guard a forage train to- -morrow," said the Orderly one evening at roll-call. "You fellers wants -to all be up 'n' dressed bright 'n' early, with yer cartridge-boxes full -'n' a day's rations in yer haversacks. Be sure yer guns is in good -order, fer likely's not we'll have a squirmish afore we git back." - -The 200th Ind. had been lying in camp for two or three days, and the -ambitious heroes who composed that regiment were getting tired of -loafing about. Nothing chafed the raging patriotism of the new troops -like a condition, however brief, of masterly inactivity. They refused to -be comforted unless they were on the warpath all the time. Their ideal -of a soldier's life was to take a rebel battery every morning before -breakfast, storm a line of works to give them an appetite for dinner, -and spend the afternoon charging with cold steel the serried columns of -the foe and wading around through seas of gore. - -So Corporal Klegg and Shorty and the rest of the boys betook themselves -with alacrity to the work of preparation for the duties of the morrow. -Members of the other companies watched the proceedings with jealous eye. -They almost turned green with envy because they were not detailed for -the expedition instead of Co. Q. - -"Say, Si," remarked Shorty, thoughtfully, "hadn't we better write a -letter home? Who knows but we'll be as dead as mackerels to-morrer -night!" - -"Fiddlesticks!" said Si. "What's the use o' havin' a funeral afore -there's any corpse! We've bin through one fight 'n' didn't git hurt, 'n' -I've made up my mind there's no use gittin' into a stew over a thing -that may hap'n 'n' may not. Time 'nuff to fret 'bout it when it comes. I -recolleck one thing I learned in Sunday-school—let's see, it was -'S'ficient unto the day is the evil thereof,' or suthin' like that. -Strikes me that's a good passidge o' Scripter fer a soldier to keep -pasted in his hat. I ain't goin' ter hang back fer fear a billit 'll hit -me, nuther. If we're going to be killed we can't help it, so let's not -fret our gizzards out!" And Si crammed a handful of hardtack into his -haversack. - -Si's cheery view of the case was not without its effect upon Shorty. -Indeed, it cannot be denied that there was a great deal of common sense -in his homely, good-natured philosophy. Sooner or later every soldier -who did not "peter out" came gradually to adopt Si's idea as the -governing principle of his military career. - -"Shouldn't wonder if you was 'bout right, after all," said Shorty, as he -sliced up some bacon to have it ready for an early breakfast. "You're -better'n medicine, Si, to a feller w'at gits the blues sometimes!" - -The preparations were soon made, and Co. Q went to bed early. In the -morning the Orderly came around and stirred the boys up an hour before -reveille, as they were ordered to be ready to start at daylight. The -primary object of the expedition was forage for the animals, the supply -of which had run short. Besides this, each man had a secondary purpose, -and that was to gather in something on his own hook that would satisfy -his longing for a change from the regulation diet. This was always the -unwritten part of the order to "go out foraging." Daylight was just -streaking over the camp when Co. Q, equipped in light marching order, -leaving knapsacks behind, moved out to where the half dozen wagons -detailed from the regimental transportation were ready for the start. -Each regiment in the brigade furnished a company and the same number of -wagons. The impatient mules were braying and flapping their ears, as if -they understood that they were to be the chief beneficiaries of the -raid. - -"Pile in, boys!" said the Orderly, and they clambered into the wagons. -The guards were permitted to ride until there were symptoms of danger. - -Then the muleteers, bestriding the big "wheelers," cracked their long -whips like pistol-snots, addressed to the mules the usual words of -exhortation, and the long procession drew out upon the stony pike and -took a brisk trot. Considerable foraging had already been done in the -vicinity, and it was expected the train would have to go out several -miles in order to fully accomplish its object. The boys were in fine -spirits and enjoyed their morning ride, albeit the jolting of the wagons -gave them a thorough shaking up. - -"I guess they forgot to put any springs in when they built these -wagons!" said Shorty, as he shifted his position so that he might catch -the bumps in a new place for a while. - -"Jest thinkin' that way myself," replied Si; "but all the same, it beats -travelin' on the hoof all holler!" - -Three or four miles out from camp the train was halted while the -officers in command made inquiries of a cadaverous native who was -sunning himself on the fence and whose principal occupation seemed to be -chewing tobacco and distributing the resultant liquid around in a -promiscuous way. - -"Good morning, stranger," said the officer, "have you any corn on your -place?" - -"Haint got a dog-goned ear left!" was the surly answer. "Some o' you- -unses men wuz out here yisterdy 'n' tuk every bit I hed." - -This may or may not have been true. Inquiries of this nature always -developed the fact that it was a man's neighbors who had plenty of corn; -he never had any himself. - -"There's ole man Scroggs," he continued; "he lives a matter of two miles -from hyar. I 'low ye'll git sum if ye go thar. He growed a power o' cawn -this yeah; he sold a heap, but I reckon he's got a right smart left." - -During this time a couple of men had been making a hasty examination of -the outbuildings on the place. They reported that they could find -nothing in the way of forage. If the man had any corn he had carefully -concealed it. The train started on to pay a visit to old man Scroggs. - -"Say, old pard," asked Si as his wagon drove past, "is there any rebs -'round here?" - -"There wuz a few Confedrit critter-men ridin' 'bout hyar this -mawnin';—mebby ye'll run agin 'em 'afore night." - -"How many o' your boys is among em?" - -"We'uns is all Union." - -"Jest as long as we're 'round, I s'pose!" said Si. - -A mile further on those who were in the lead, rising to the crest of a -hill, saw—or thought they saw a few vagrant cavalrymen far ahead. The -train was halted and dispositions were made to meet any emergency likely -to arise. The men were ordered to "tumble out" of the wagons. The main -body was formed in advance. A line of skirmishers was deployed in front -and flankers were thrown out on either side. Thus protected, the mule -drivers again cracked their whips and the procession moved cautiously -forward. - -"Now keep yer eyes skinned," said Si to Shorty as they trailed along -through the woods and fields and over fences, on one of the flanks. "If -any of them raskils comes dodgin' 'round here let's try 'n' have the -first crack at 'em 'n' git the bulge on the rest o' the boys!" - -Keenly alert, with muskets loaded and capped, they crept carefully -along, poking their noses into every thicket and peering around every -building. It was clear that there would not be anything in the nature of -a surprise if the whole line was as well taken care of as the particular -point guarded by Corporal Klegg and his faithful friend Shorty. - -"It's some like huntin' squirrels up in the woods of Posey County," said -Si, as they forced their way through a patch of brambles. - -"'Pears to be rayther more excitin' than huntin' squirrels," said -Shorty. "Ye know squirrels doesn't shute back at a feller as them pesky -rebbles does, an' the fun 's all on one side. I reckon ef squirrels c'd -shute there wouldn't be so much huntin' of 'em!" - -It was really a disappointment to Si that he found no opportunity to -squint along the barrel of his musket in range of a foe. If any of his -misguided fellow-citizens were in the neighborhood they considered -discretion the better part of valor and kept out of harm's way. - -In due time the Scroggs plantation was reached. A hasty examination -showed that there was an abundance of corn on the place to load the -wagons, and arrangements for a sudden transfer of the property were -quickly made. A third of the force established a cordon of picket-posts -around the marauding party, covering all the avenues of approach, with -re serves at convenient points. The remainder of the troops stacked arms -and entered briskly upon the work of confiscation. - -An Assault on the Well-filled Corn Crib 191 - -Part of the harvest had already been gathered, and the first assault - -was made on a well-filled cornhouse—one of a group of dilapidated out- -buildings a little way from the dwelling. "Old man" Scroggs protested -with profane vehemence, reinforced by the "old woman" and the entire -family of children. We say "entire family," because there could not well -have been a more numerous progeny in one household anywhere outside of -Utah. - -The head of the family cursed and swore, and his wife and the big girls -looked as if they wanted to do the same thing, as they stood wringing -their hands, their eyes flashing fire while the small-fry stood around -and sobbed with a vague idea that some dire calamity had befallen them. - -The old Kentuckian declared that he was a "Union man," and that he would -demand of the Government full revenge for this outrage. It was noticed -that there were no young men around as there should be according to the -economy of nature, to preserve the balance of sex in so large a family. -The officer in command asked him where all his sons were. - -"Wall, I kaint tell yer 'zactly whar they is," was the reply. "They -ain't to hum jest now. I 'low they've got a right to g'way ef they want -ter." - -The officer had been informed that there were several representatives of -the Scroggs family in the rebel army. The old man's avowal of loyalty -was taken for what it was worth. That it was not rated at a high figure -was well attested by the appearance of the plantation a few hours later. - -Meanwhile the soldiers kept right along in the duty assigned them. The -corn-house was surrounded by wagons, the roof was gently lifted off, and -in scarcely more time than it takes to tell the story six or eight of -the wagons were heaped with the contents. The mules wagged their tails -and brayed in anticipation of the picnic they would have when they got -back to camp. - -Then the force moved some distance and attacked a large field of -standing corn. The stalks had been "topped," but the ears were yet -ungathered. The men started in between the rows and swept through that -field like a cyclone, plucking the ears right and left. Bags, baskets -and boxes were pressed into the service, and as there were not enough of -these to go' round many bore the corn to the wagons by armfuls. It did -not take more than two or three hours to strip every ear from the field. -A visitation of overgrown Kansas grasshoppers could not have done a more -thorough job. - -"Fo' de Lawd, boss," said an old darky who had been roosting on the -fence watching the spoilers, "I nebber seed de crap gaddered so quick -since I'se bawn. You'uns all is powerful smart, da't shuah!" - -But where were Corporal Klegg and his comrade. Shorty, while all this -was going on? - -They had been stationed as sentinels near a house, half a mile beyond, -on the pike. They were cautioned to keep a sharp lookout, and for a time -they obeyed their instructions to the letter. Their vigilant eyes swept -the surrounding country, and no rebel could have crept up on them -without getting a pair of bullets from their ready muskets. They saw no -signs of an enemy, and after a while it began to grow monotonous. - -"Shorty," said Si, "I don't b'lieve there's any seceshers in these -parts, an' there ain't any use'n us both keepin' this thing up. You jest -watch out awhile 'n' I'll skin around 'n' see what I kin find." - -Shorty agreed to this, taking it as an order from his superior officer. -Si threw his gun up to a "right shoulder shift" and started off, after -again urging upon his companion the importance of attending strictly to -business. - -Si had not gone far till he saw, penned in a corner of the barnyard, a -cow with a full udder, from which a frisky young calf was busily engaged -in pumping nourishment. A violent feeling of envy toward that calf began -immediately to rage in the 'breast of Si. He had not had a draft of -fresh milk since he had left home, and he felt that a little refreshment -of that kind would be particularly gratifying to his interior organism. -It would strengthen him and give him new courage to stand up to the rack -if they should happen to get into a fight. - -"I say. Shorty," he called, "cum 'ere a minnit, quick!" - -Si's conscience smote him for calling Shorty from his duty and leaving -the post unguarded, but the temptation was too strong for him to resist, -and he yielded to the impulse to take the chances. Shorty came on the -run, with eyes wide open, thinking his comrade had discovered some -rebels hanging around. - -"Look there!" said Si, pointing to the maternal scene that has been -alluded to. "Let's have some o' that. We'll git over the fence 'n' you -jest hold the calf while I milk our canteens full. 'Twont take more'n a -jiffy!" - -"We ort n't to leave the post, ort we?" suggested Shorty. - -"Oh, there ain't no danger," Si replied; "an' besides, you can keep -lookin' out while you're hangin' on to the calf. I was alters a good -milker 'n' I'll fill up these canteens in a couple o' minnits." So they -climbed over and leaned their muskets against the fence. Shorty seized -the calf and held it with a firm grip, in spite of its struggling and -bleating. The cow seemed disposed at first to resent the interference, -but Si's persuasive "So, bossy" proved effectual in calming her fears, -and she stood placidly chewing her cud while Si, spurred on by a guilty -conscience, milked with all his might. - -Shorty Held the Calf 195 - -The canteens were soon filled, and, with out stopping to drink. Si and -Shorty hurried back to their post of duty. All was quiet, and no harm -had resulted from their brief absence. - -"I told ye 'twould be all right," said Si. "Now, we'll jest empty one o' -these canteens—here, take a swig—'n' we'll carry the other to camp. -It'll be jest bully to have milk in our coffee agin!" - -Then they betook themselves to duty with redoubled vigilance, to atone -for their derelictions. After watching for an hour without seeing -anything, Si said he would take another little turn around the place. - -Boldly advancing to the house, which was some distance in front of their -post, he was met by a girl of about 18. She was rather pretty, but to -Si's ardent imagination she was like a vision of surpassing loveliness. -She greeted him pleasantly—for Si was a comely youth—and, if the truth -must be told, he actually forgot for the moment all about his duty. When -she said she would get him a good dinner, and invited him into the house -to sit while she prepared it, he just went right along. - -But his conscience began to thump so loudly that after a few minutes he -told her he guessed he'd have to go, but would be delighted to return in -an hour and partake of her hospitality. - -"May I bring Shorty—he's my pard—'long with me?" he timidly asked. - -"Certainly!" she replied, with a sweet smile; and Si went away, his -nerves tingling with pleasant emotions to the very tips of his fingers. - -"Shorty," he said, as he came up to "I've struck it this time. Over to -that house there's the purtiest gal I ever see." - -"Wha-a-a-a-t!" interjected Shorty, with a look of astonishment; for he -knew something about Si and Annabel—the girl he left behind him—and he -was both surprised and pained at Si's treasonable enthusiasm. - -Si easily divined his thoughts, for something of the same nature had -already caused his own heart to palpitate in a reproving way. - -"Of—c-c-course—I d-d-don't—mean th-th-that. Shorty," he stammered "but -she's a nice girl, anyhow, 'n' she's gittin' up a dinner fer me 'n' you. -Bet ye it'll be a nice lay-out, too!" - -Shorty did not feel quite at ease in his mind about leaving the post -again, but Si assured him it would be all right. The peculiar -circumstances of the case had sadly warped Si's judgment. - -So they went to the house and were cordially greeted by their fair young -hostess, who was flying around, putting the finishing touches to the -meal she had prepared for them. - -"Jiminy, don't that smell good?" said Si to Shorty in an undertone, as -his sensitive nostrils caught the savory odors that arose from the -nicely-spread board. - -The young soldiers stood their guns on the floor in a corner of the -room, preliminary to an assault on the edibles. - -"Ugh!" exclaimed the young woman, with a coquettish shiver, "be them -awful things loaded?" - -"N—no!" said Si; "they won't hurt ye if ye don't touch 'em!" - -Si was learning to fib a little, and he wanted to quiet the girl's -fears. - -The boys were soon seated at the table, bountifully supplied with ham, -chicken, eggs, bread and butter, honey, and all the accessories of a -well-ordered repast. They fell to with an eagerness that was, perhaps, -justified by the long time that had elapsed since they had had a "square -meal." Si thought that never in his life had anything tasted so good. - -While they were thus engaged, without a thought of impending danger, the -girl suddenly opened the door, leading to the dining room. A wild-eyed -man—who proved to be her brother—in the uniform of a rebel soldier, -dashed in, and, presenting a cocked revolver, demanded their -unconditional and immediate surrender. - -They were in a tight place. But Si proved equal to the sudden and -appalling emergency. It flashed through his mind in an instant how the -girl had "played it" on him. He made up his mind that he would rather be -shot than be captured under such circumstances. - -Si Sprang Upon Him 199 - -Si sprang up, and the rebel, true to his word, fired. Si dodged, and the -ball only chipped a piece from his left ear. There was not time to get -and use his gun. With the quickness of a cat Si sprang upon him, and -with a blow of his fist laid him sprawling upon the floor. Disarming -him, he placed the revolver at his head and triumphantly exclaimed: - -"Now, gol durn ye, you're my prisoner. I'd like to blow the top o' yer -head off fer spilin' my dinner, but I won't do it this time. But you -jist git up 'n' come 'long with me!" - -With his complete mastery of the situation, Si's confidence returned, -and Shorty, who had been dazed and helpless at first, recovered himself -and came to his assistance. - -But at this instant their ears caught the sound of horses' hoofs -galloping down the pike. Si's quick perception told him that is was a -dash of rebel cavalrymen, and that a few moments later escape would be -impossible. - -"Grab yer gun an' git!" he said to Shorty, at the same time casting one -ferocious glance at the terrified girl, who stood, white and speechless, -contemplating the scene. - -Si and Shorty dashed out of the house and started for the reserve, at -the highest speed of which their legs were capable. On clattered the -horses, and a few shots from the carbines of the swift-riding horsemen -whistled through the air. - -Six feet at a jump, with thumping hearts and bulging eyes, the fugitives -almost flew over the ground, throwing quick glances at their pursuers, -and then ahead, in the hope of catching a glimpse of succor. - -'shorty if We--only Git--out O' This--' 203 - -"Shorty, if we only git out o' this—" but Si found he hadn't any wind to -spare to finish the sentence. We must leave to the reader's imagination -the good resolutions as to his future conduct that were forming in Si's -mind at this critical juncture. He saw the awful consequences of -yielding to the influence of that alluring young woman and her seductive -dinner. What he had read about Adam and the trouble Eve got him into, in -pretty much the same way, flashed before him. It was a good time to -resolve that he wouldn't do so any more. - -Shorty, long and lank, was swifter on his feet than Si. Hardtack and -bacon had not yet reduced the latter's surplus flesh to a degree that -enabled him to run well. Shorty kept ahead, but would not desert his -comrade, slowing up for an instant now and then to give Si, who was -straining to the utmost every nerve, and puffing like a locomotive on an -upgrade, a chance to keep within supporting distance. - -The soldiers of the reserve taking the alarm, came out at a double-quick -and were fortunately able to cover the retreat of Si and Shorty. The -half dozen cavalrymen, upon the appearance of so large a force, turned -their horses and galloped away. - -"Hello, Si," said the Orderly of Co. Q, "yer ear's bleedin'. What hurt -ye?" - -"Fell down and scratched it on a brier!" said Si, as soon as he was able -to speak. - -That night Si and Shorty sat on a log by the campfire talking over the -events of the day. - -"Don't ye never blow on this thing," said Si. "It'll be a cold day for -us if they'd find it out." - -"There ain't no danger o' my tellin'," replied Shorty. "But, say, ain't -that a nice girl out there?" - -"She's a mean rebel, that's what she is! But that was a smart trick o' -her'n, wasn't it?" - -"Come mighty near bein' too smart fer us!" replied Shorty. "I don't want -no more such close shaves in mine. You 'member the story of the spider -and the fly, don't ye? Well, she was the spider 'n' we was two poor -little fool flies!" - -"Shorty," said Si, "I'd a mighty sight ruther be an angel an' have the -daisies a-bloomin' over my grave, than to have been tuk a prisoner in -that house. But that dinner was good, anyhow—what we got of it!" - - - - - -CHAPTER XX. "THE SWEET SABBATH" HOW THE BLESSED DAY OF REST WAS SPENT IN -THE ARMY. - -"TOMORROW'S Sunday, ye know," said the Orderly of Company Q one Saturday -night at roll-call. - -This was in the nature of news to the boys. But for the announcement -very few of them would have known it. The Orderly was not distinguished -for his piety, and it is not likely that the approach of Sunday would -have occurred to him if the Sergeant-Major had not come around with -orders from the Colonel for a proper observance of the day. The Colonel -himself would not have thought of it either, if the Chaplain had not -reminded him of it. Everybody wondered how even the Chaplain could keep -track of the days well enough to know when Sunday came—but that was -chiefly what he wore shoulder-straps and drew his salary for. It was the -general impression that he either carried an almanac in his pocket, or -else a stick in which he cut a notch every day with his jack-knife, and -in that way managed to know when a new week began. - -"There'll be guard-mountin' at 9 o'clock," continued the Orderly, -"regimental inspection at 10, preachin' at 11, an' dress-parade at 5 in -the evenin'. All of ye wants to tumble out right promptly at revellee -an' git yer breakfast, an' then clean up yer guns an' put all yer traps -in apple-pie order, 'cause the Colonel's goin' to look at 'em. He's got -sharp eyes, an' I reck'n he'll be mighty pertickler. If there's anything -that ain't jest right he'll see it quicker'n litenin'. Ye know we hain't -had any inspections yet, an' the Cap'n wants us to be the boss company. -So ye've got to scratch around lively in the mornin'." - -"Say," said Corporal Klegg, after the company had broken ranks, "seems -to me there wa'n't no use in the Orderly tellin' us to 'scratch around,' -fer we're doin' that purty much all the time, now that the graybacks is -gittin' in their work on us." - -Shorty smiled faintly at what he seemed to consider a rather feeble -joke, even for Si. - -The 200th Ind. had now been in the field for many weeks, but it had been -continually cantering about the country, and the Generals had kept it -particularly active on Sundays. Probably this regiment did not manifest -any more than the average degree of enthusiasm and fervor in religious -matters, but there were many in its ranks who, at home, had always sat -under Gospel ministrations, and to tramp on Sundays, the same as other -days, was, at first, a rude shock to their moral sensibilities. These -were yet keen, the edges had not been worn off and blunted and battered -by the hard knocks of army life. True, they could scarcely tell when -Sunday came, but they knew that they kept right along every day. - -"Shorty," said Si, after they had curled up under the blanket for the -night, "'pears to me it'll seem sort o' nice to keep Sunday agin. At the -rate we've bin goin' on we'll all be heathens by the time we git home—if -we ever do. Our Chaplain haint had no chance to preachify yet. The boys -of Comp'ny X, w'at knows him, says he's a staver, 'n' I b'lieve it'll -make us all feel better to have him talk to us once. 'Twont do us no -harm, nohow, I'd like to be home to-morrer 'n' go to church with mother, -'n' sister Marier, 'n'—er—I mean the rest of the folks. Then I'd jest -eat all the afternoon. I ain't goin' ter git homesick, Shorty; but a -feller can't help feelin' a little streaked once 'n' a while. Mebbe it's -a good idee fer 'em to keep us on the jump, fer then we don't git no -chance to think 'bout it. I don't suppose I'm the only boy 'n the -regiment that 'd be glad to git a jest fer to-morrer. I sh'd want ter be -back bright 'n' arly to fall in Monday mornin', fer I'm goin' to stick -to the 200th through thick 'n' thin, if I don't git knocked out. Say, -Shorty, how d'ye feel, any way?" - -But Shorty was already fast asleep. Si spooned up to him and was soon, -in his dreams, away up in Posey County. - -The sound of the bugle and drum, at daylight, fell upon unwilling ears, -for the soldiers felt the same indisposition to get up early Sunday -morning that is everywhere One of the characteristics of modern -civilization. Their beds were hard, but to their weary limbs no couch of -down ever gave more welcome rest than did the rough ground on which they -lay. But the wild yell of the Orderly, "Turn out for roll-call!" with -the thought of the penalties for non-obedience—which some of them had -abundant reason to remember—quickly brought out the laggards. - -Si and Shorty were, as usual, among the first to take their places in -line. They were pleasantly greeted by the Captain, who had come out on -the run at the last moment, and wriggled himself into his coat as he -strode along the company street. The Captain did not very often appear -at morning rollcall. But one officer of the company was required to be -present, and the Captain generally loaded this duty upon the Lieutenants -"turn about." If he did show up, he would go back to bed and snooze for -an hour while the cook was getting breakfast. If one of the men did that -he would soon be promenading with a rail on his shoulder or standing on -a barrel with a stick or a bayonet tied in his mouth. - -"I think that's a fust rate notion to mount the guards," said Si to -Shorty as they sat on a rail by the fire making coffee and frying bacon. -"It'll be so much better 'n walkin' back 'n' forrard on the beats. -Wonder 'f they'll give us bosses or mules to ride." - -"I'd like to know what put that idee into yer head," said Shorty. - -"Whydn't the Ord'ly say last night there 'd be guard-mountin' at 9 -o'clock this mornin'? I s'posed that fer a man to be mounted meant -straddlin' a boss or s'mother kind of an animal." - -"Ain't ye never goin' to larn nuthin'," said Shorty, with a laugh. -"Guard-mountin' don't mean fer the men to git on hosses. It's only the -name they gives it in the Army Reggelations. Dunno why they calls it -that, 'nless it's 'cause the guards has to 'mount' anybody that tries to -pass 'thout the countersign. But don't ye fool yerself with thinkin' yer -goin' to get to ride. We'll keep pluggin' along afoot, on guard or -anywhere else, same's we have all the time." - -Thus rudely was shattered another of Si Klegg's bright illusions. - -The whole regiment turned out to witness the ceremony of guard-mounting. -It was the first time the exigencies of the campaign had permitted the -200th Ind. to do this in regular style. The Adjutant was the most -important personage, and stood so straight that he narrowly escaped -falling over backward. In order to guard against making a mess of it, he -had spent half the night rehearsing the various commands in his tent. -Thus prepared, he managed to get through it in very fair shape. - -So Straight he Leaned Backward 211 - -The next thing on the program for the day was the inspection. The boys -had been industriously engaged in cleaning up their muskets and -accouterments, and putting their scanty wardrobes in presentable -condition. In arranging his knapsack for the Colonel's eye, each man -carefully laid a clean shirt, if he had one, on the top. The garments -that were not clean he either stowed away in the tent or put at the -bottom of the knapsack. In this he was actuated by the same principle -that prompts the thrifty farmer to put the biggest apples and -strawberries at the top of his measure. - -The clothing of the regiment was already in an advanced stage of -demoralization. It was of the "shoddy" sort that a good hard wind would -almost blow to pieces. - -Corporal Klegg was anxious that not only his person, but all his -belongings, should make as good an appearance as possible. He put on the -best and cleanest garments he had, and then betook himself to fixing his -knapsack so it would pass muster. - -"Them duds is a bad lot," he said to Shorty, casting rueful glances at -the little heap of soiled and ragged clothes. "Purty hard to make a -decent show with them things." - -"Wait a minute," said Shorty, "an' I'll show ye a little trick." - -Taking his poncho under His arm. Shorty went to the rear of the camp, -where the mules were feeding, and presently returned with a bunch of -hay. - -"What ye goin' to do with that?" asked Si. - -"You jest do 's I tell ye, and don't ask no questions. Cram some o' this -hay into yer knapsack 'n' fill 'er up 'n' then put a shirt or suthin', -the best ye kin find, on top, 'n' the Colonel 'll think she's full o' -clothes right from the laundry. I'm goin' to fix mine that way." - -"Shorty, you're a trump!" said Si, approvingly. "That 'll be a bully -scheme." - -It required but a few minutes to carry out the plan. The hay was stuffed -into the knapsack, and all vagrant spears were carefully tucked in. - -Then a garment, folded so as to conceal its worst features, was nicely -spread over the hay, the flaps were closed and buckled, and the young -Hoosiers were ready for inspection. - -"S'posen the Colonel sh'd take a notion to go pokin' down into them -knapsacks," said Si; "don't ye think it'd be purty cold weather for us?" - -"P'r'aps it mout," answered Shorty; "but we've got ter take the chances. -He's got seven or eight hundred knapsacks to 'nspect, 'n' I don't -b'lieve he'll stick his nose down into very many on 'em!" - -At the appointed time the battalion was formed and the inspection was -gone through with in good style. The Colonel and the field and staff -officers, escorted by the Captain of each successive company, moved -gradually between the ranks, their swords dangling around and getting -mixed up with their legs. The soldiers stood facing inward like so many -wooden men, with their open knapsacks lying upon the ground at their -feet. The Colonel looked sharply right and left, stopped now and then to -commend a soldier whose "straps" were in particularly good condition, or -to "go for" another whose slouchy appearance betokened untidy habits. If -a button was missing, or a shoe untied, his eye was keen to detect it, -and a word of reproof was administered to the delinquent. - -As the Colonel started down the line of Company Q Si watched him out of -the corners of his eyes with no little anxiety. His heart thumped as he -saw him occasionally stoop and fumble over the contents of a knapsack, -evidently to test the truth of Longfellow's declaration that "things are -not what they seem." What if the Colonel should go down into the bowels -of Si's knapsack! Si fairly shuddered at the thought. - -Si, being the shortest of the Corporals, was at the foot of the company, -while Shorty, on account of his hight, was well up toward the head. Si -almost fainted when he saw the Colonel stop in front of his "pard" and -make an examination of his fatlooking knapsack. Military official -dignity gave way when the removal of the single garment exposed the -stuffing of hay. The officers burst into a laugh at the unexpected -revelation, while the boys on either side almost exploded in their -enjoyment of Shorty's discomfiture. - -Si Almost Fainted when the Colonel Stopped 215 - -"Captain," said the Colonel, with as much sternness as he could command, -"as soon as your company is dismissed detail a guard to take charge of -this man. Have him take the hay out of his knapsack and fill it with -stones—and see that it is filled full. Have this man put it on and march -him up and down the company street till church-call, and then take him -to hear the Chaplain. He needs to be preached to. Perhaps, between the -knapsack-drill and the Chaplain, we can straight him out." - -Corporal Klegg heard all this, and he wished the ground might open and -swallow him. "These stripes is gone this time, sure!" he said to -himself, as he looked at the chevrons on his arm. "But there's no use -givin' yourself away, Si. Brace up, 'n' mebbe the Colonel 'll skip ye." - -Si had been badly shaken up by the Colonel's episode with Shorty, but by -a great effort he gathered himself together and was at his best, -externally, when the Colonel reached him, though his thoughts were in a -raging condition. His face was clean and rosy, and his general make-up -was as good as could be expected under the circumstances. - -The Colonel had always remembered Si as the soldier he had promoted to -be a Corporal for his gallantry in the little skirmish a few days -before. As he came up he greeted the Corporal with a smile and a nod of -recognition. He was evidently pleased at his tidy appearance. He cast a -glance at the voluptuous knapsack, and Si's heart seemed to sink away -down into his shoes. - -But the fates smiled on Si that day. The Colonel turned to the Captain -and told him that Corporal Klegg was the model soldier of Company Q. Si -was the happiest man in the universe at that precise moment. It was not -on account of the compliment the Colonel had paid him, but because his -knapsack had escaped a critical inspection of its contents. - -The inspection over, Company Q marched back to its quarters and was -dismissed. Poor Shorty was soon tramping to and fro, under guard, -humping his back to ease the load that had been put upon it. Si was very -sorry for him, and at the same time felt a glow of pleasure at the -thought that it was not his own knapsack instead of Shorty's that the -Colonel had examined. He could not help feeling, too, that it was a -great joke on Shorty to be caught in his own trap. - -Shorty Was There--with a Guard 217 - -Shorty took his medicine like a man, marching up and down the row of -tents bravely and patiently, unheeding the gibes and jeers of his hard- -hearted comrades. - -The bugle sounded the call for religious services. Shorty was not in a -frame of mind that fitted him for devout worship. In fact, few in the -regiment had greater need of the regenerating influence. He had never -been inside of a church but two or three times in his life, and he -really felt that to be compelled to go and listen to the Chaplain's -sermon was the hardest part of the double punishment the Colonel had -inflicted upon him. - -The companies were all marched to a wooded knoll just outside the camp. -Shorty went by himself, save the companionship of the guard, with fixed -bayonet. He had been permitted to leave his knapsack behind. He was -taken to a point near the Chaplain, that he might get the full benefit -of the preacher's words. - -Under the spreading trees, whose foliage was brilliant with the hues of -Autumn, in the mellow sunshine of that October day the men seated -themselves upon the ground to hear the Gospel preached. The Chaplain, in -his best uniform, stood and prayed fervently for Divine guidance and -protection and blessing, while the soldiers listened, with heads -reverently bowed. Then he gave out the familiar Methodist hymn, - -"Am I a soldier of the cross," - -and all joined in the old tune "Balerma," their voices swelling in -mighty chorus. As they sang, - -"Are there no foes for me to face?" - -there came to the minds of many a practical application of the words, in -view of the long and fruitless chase after the rebels in which they had -been engaged for nearly a month. - -The Chaplain had formerly been an old-fashioned Methodist circuit-rider -in Indiana. He was full of fiery zeal, and portrayed the terrors of -eternal punishment so vividly that His hearers could almost feel the -heat of the flame and smell the fumes of brimstone that are popularly -believed to roll out unceasingly from the mouth of the bottomless pit. -It ought to have had a salutary effect upon Shorty, but it is greatly to -be feared that he steeled his stubborn heart against all that the -Chaplain said. - -It was always difficult not to feel that there was something -contradictory and anomalous about religious services in the army. Grim- -visaged, hideous war, and all its attendant circumstances, seemed so -utterly at variance with the principles of the Bible and the teachings -of Him who was meek and lowly, that few soldiers had philosophy enough -to reconcile them. - -The soldiers spent the afternoon in reading what few stray books and -fugitive, well-worn newspapers there were in camp, mending their -clothes, sleeping, and some of them, we are pained to add, in playing -eucher, old sledge, and other sinful games. Dress parade closed the day -that had brought welcome rest to the way-worn soldiers of the 200th -Ind.. - -"Shorty," said Si, after they had gone to bed that night, "I sh'd be -mighty sorry if I'd ha' got up that knapsack trick this mornin', 'cause -you got left on it so bad." - -"There's a good many things," replied Shorty, "that's all right when ye -don't git ketched. It worked tip top with you, Si, 'n' I'm glad of it. -But I put ye up to it, 'n' I shouldn't never got over it if the Colonel -had caught ye, on account of them stripes on yer arm. He'd ha' snatched -'em baldheaded, sure's yer born. You're my pard, 'n' I'm jest as proud -of 'em as you be yerself. I'm only a privit,' 'n' they can't rejuce me -any lower! Besides, I 'low it sarved me right 'n' I don't keer fer the -knapsack drill, so I didn't git you into a scrape." - - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. SI AND SHORTY WERE RAPIDLY LEARNING THE GREAT MILITARY -TRUTH - -THAT IN THE ARMY THE MOST LIKELY THING TO HAPPEN IS SOMETHING ENTIRELY -UNLIKELY. - -COL. TERRENCE P. McTARNAGHAN, as his name would indicate, had first -opened his eyes where the blue heavens bend over the evergreen sod of -Ireland. Naturally, therefore, he thought himself a born soldier, and -this conviction had been confirmed by a year's service as Second -Lieutenant of Volunteers in the Mexican War, and subsequent connection -with the Indiana Militia. Being an Irishman, when he went in for -anything, and especially soldiering, he went in with all his might. He -had associated with Regular Army officers whenever there was an -opportunity, and he looked up to them with the reverence and emulation -that an amateur gives to a professional. Naturally he shared their idea -that an inspection and parade was the summit of military art. -Consequently, the main thing to make the 200th Ind. the regiment it -should be were frequent and rigid inspections. - -Fine weather, two days of idleness, and the prospect that the regiment -would remain there some time watching the crossing of the Cumberland -were enough and more than enough to set the Colonel going. The Adjutant -published the following order: - -Headquarters 200th Indiana, In the Field, on the Cumberland, - -Nov. 25, 1862. - -I. The Regiment will be paraded for inspection tomorrow afternoon at 4 -o'clock. - -II. Captains will be expected to parade the full strength of their -companies. - -III. A half hour before the parade. Captains will form their companies -in the company streets and inspect every man. - -IV. The men will be required to have their clothes neatly brushed, -blouses buttoned up, clean underclothes, shoes blacked, letters and -numbers polished, and arms and accouterments in best condition. They -will wear white gloves. - -V. The man who has his clothes, arms and accouterments in the best order -will be selected for the Colonel's Orderly. - -By command of - -Attest: COL. TERRENCE P. McTARNAGHAN, Colonel. - -B. B. LAUGHLIN, Adjutant. - -When Capt. McGillicuddy marched Co. Q back to its street, he called -attention to the order with a few terse admonitions as to what it meant -to every one. - -"Get at this as soon as you break ranks, boys," urged the Captain. "You -can do a whole lot between now and tattoo. The others will, and you must -not let them get ahead of you. No straw in knapsacks this time." - -Company spirit was high, and it would be little short of a calamity to -have Co. Q beaten in anything. - -There was a rush to the Sutler for white gloves, blacking, needles, -thread, paper collars, sweet oil and rotten stone for the guns. - -That genial bird of prey added 50 per cent to his prices, because it was -the first business he had done for some weeks; 50 per cent more for -keeping open in the evening, another 50 per cent for giving credit till -pay day, and still another for good will. - -The Government had just offered some very tempting gold-interest bonds, -of which he wanted a swad. - -"'Tain't right to let them green boys have their hull $13 a month to -waste in foolishness," he said. "Some good man should gather it up and -make a right use of it." - -Like Indiana farmer boys of his class. Si Klegg was cleanly but not -neat. Thanks to his mother and sisters, his Sunday clothes were always -"respectable," and he put on a few extra touches when he expected to -meet Annabel. He took his first bath for the year in the Wabash a week -or two after the suckers began to run, and his last just before the -water got so cold as to make the fish bite freely. - -Such a thing as a "dandy" was particularly distasteful to him. - -"Shorty," said Si, as he watched some of the boys laboring with -sandpaper, rotten stone and oil to make the gunbarrels shine like -silver, "what's the cense o' bein' so partickler about the outside of a -gun? The business part's inside. Making them screw heads look like beads -don't make it no surer of gitting Mr. Butternut." - -"Trouble about you folks on the Wabash," answered Shorty, as he twisted -a screw head against some emery paper, "is that you don't pay enough -attention to style. Style goes a long ways in this vain and wicked -world," (and his eyes became as if meditating on worlds he had known -which were not so vain and wicked), "and when I see them Kokomo -persimmon knockers of Co. B hustling to put on frills, I'm going to beat -'em if I don't lay up a cent." - -"Same here," said Si, falling to work on his gunbarrel. "Just as' nice -people moved into Posey County as squatted in Kokomo. Gang o' hoss -thieves first settled Howard County." - -"Recollect that big two fister from Kokomo who said he'd knock your head -off if you ever throwed that up to him again?" grinned Shorty. "You -invited him to try it on, an' he said your stripes stopped him. You -pulled off your blouse, and you said you had no stripes on your shirt -sleeves. But I wouldn't say it again until those Co. B fellers try again -to buck us out of our place in the ration line. It's too good a slam to -waste." - -Tattoo sounded before they had finished their guns and accouterments. -These were laid aside to be completed in the full light of day. - -The next morning work was resumed with industry stimulated by reports of -the unusual things being done by the other companies. - -"This Tennessee mud sticks closer'n a $500 mortgage to a 40-acre tract," -sighed Si, as he stopped beating and brushing his blouse and pantaloons. - -"Or, "'Aunt Jemima's plaster, "The more you try to pull it off the more -it sticks the faster." - -hummed Shorty, with what breath he had left from his violent exercise. - -So well did they work that by dinner time they felt ready for -inspection, careful reconnoissances of the other companies showing them -to have no advantages. - -Next to the Sutler's for the prescribed white gloves. - -Si' had never worn anything on his hands but warm, woolen mittens knit -for him by his mother, but the order said white gloves, and gloves they -must have. The accommodating sutler made another stoppage in their -month's pay of $1 for a pair of cheap, white cotton gloves. By this time -the sutler had accumulated enough from the 200th Ind. to secure quite a -handful of gold interest-bearing bonds. - -"Well, what do you think of them. Si?" said Shorty, as he worked his -generous hands into a pair of the largest sized gloves and held them up -to view. - -"If they were only painted yaller and had a label on them," said Si, -"they could be issued for Cincinnati canvas covered hams." - -Shorty's retort was checked by hearing the bugle sound the officers' -call. The Colonel announced to them that owing to the threatening look -of the skies the parade and inspection would take place in an hour. - -There was feverish haste to finish undone things, but when Capt. -McGillicuddy looked over his men in the company street, he declared -himself proud to stack up Co. Q against any other in the regiment. Gun -barrels and bayonets shone like silver, rammers rang clear, and came out -without a stain to the Captain's white gloves. - -The band on the parade ground struck up the rollicking - -"O, ain't I glad to git out of the wilderness, Out of the wilderness-Out -of the wilderness," - -and Capt. McGillicuddy marched proudly out at the head of 75 broad- -shouldered, well-thewed young Indianians, fit and fine as any south of -the Ohio. - -The guides, holding their muskets butts up, indicated where the line was -to form, the trim little Adjutant, glorious as the day in a new uniform -and full breasted as a pouter-pigeon, was strutting over toward the -band, and the towering red-headed Colonel, martial from his waving plume -to his jangling spurs, stood before his tent in massive dignity, waiting -for the color company to come up and receive the precious regimental -standard. - -This scene of orderly pomp and pageantry was rudely disturbed by an Aid -dashing in on a sweating horse, and calling out to the statuesque -commander: - -"Colonel, a train is stalled in the creek about three miles from here, -and is threatened with capture by Morgan's cavalry. The General presents -his compliments, and directs that you take your regiment on the double- -quick to the assistance of the train. You v'e not a moment lose." - -"Tare and 'ounds!" swore the Colonel in the classic he used when -excited, "am I niver to have a dacint inspection? Orderly, bring me me -harse. Stop that band's ijiotic blatting. Get into line there, quick as -love will let you, you unblessed Indiana spalpeans. Without doubling; -right face! Forward, M-a-r-c-h!" - -Col. McTarnaghan, still wearing his parade grandeur, was soon at the -head of the column, on that long-striding horse which always set such a -hot pace for the regiment; especially over such a rough, gullied road as -they were now traveling. - -Still, the progress was not fast enough to suit the impatient Colonel, -who had an eye to the report he would have to make to the Brigadier -General, who was a Regular. - -"Capt. McGillicuddy," commanded he, turning in his saddle, "send forward -a Corporal and five men for an advance guard." - -"Corporal Klegg, take five men and go to the front," commanded the -Captain. - -"Now you b'yes, get ahead as fast as you can. Get a move on them durty -spalpanes of tamesters. We must get back to camp before this storm -strikes us. Shove out, now, as if the divil or Jahn Morgan was after -yez." - -It was awful double-quicking over that rocky, rutty road, but taking -Shorty and four others. Si went on the keen jump to arrive hot and -breathless on the banks of the creek. There he found a large bearded man -wearing an officer's slouched hat sitting on a log, smoking a black -pipe, and gazing calmly on the ruck of wagons piled up behind one -stalled in the creek, which all the mules they could hitch to it had -failed to pull out. - -It was the Wagon Master, and his calmness was that of exhaustion. He had -yelled and sworn himself dry, and was collecting another fund of abuse -to spout at men and animals. - -"Here, why don't you git a move on them wagons?" said Si hotly, for he -was angered at the man's apparent indifference. - -"'Tend to your own business and I'll tend to mine," said the Wagon -Master, sullenly, without removing his pipe or looking at Si. - -"Look here, I'm a Corporal, commanding the advance guard," said Si. "I -order you!" - -This seemed to open the fountains of the man's soul. - -"You order me?" he yelled, "you splay-footed, knock-kneed, chuckled- -headed paper-collared, whitegloved sprat from a milk-sick prairie. -Corporal! I outrank all the Corporals from here to Christmas of next -year." - -"The gentleman seems to have something on his mind," grinned Shorty. -"Mebbe his dinner didn't set well." - -"Shorty?" inquired Si, "how does a Wagon Master rank? Seems to me nobody -lower'n a Brigadier-General should dare talk to me that way." - -"Dunno," answered Shorty, doubtfully. "Seems as if I'd heard some of -them Wagon Masters rank as Kurnels. He swears like one." - -"Corporal!" shouted the Wagon Master with infinite scorn. "Measly $2-a- -month water toter for the camp-guard, order me!" and he went off into a -rolling stream of choice "army language." - -"He must certainly be a Kurnel," said Shorty. - -"Here," continued the Wagon Master, "if you don't want them two shoat- -brands jerked offen you, jump in and get them wagons acrost. That's what -you were sent to do. Hump yourself, if you know what's good for you. -I've done all I can. Now it's your turn." - -Dazed and awed by the man's authoritativeness the boys ran down to the -water to see what was the trouble. - -They found the usual difficulty in Southern crossings. The stupid -tinkerers with the road had sought to prevent it running down into the -stream by laying a log at the edge of the water. This was an enormous -one two feet in diameter, with a chuckhole before it, formed by the -efforts of the teams to mount the log. The heavily laden ammunition -wagon had its hub below the top of the log, whence no amount of mule- -power could extricate it. - -Si, with Indiana commonsense, saw that the only help was to push the -wagon back and lay a pile of poles to make a gradual ascent. He and the -rest laid their carefully polished muskets on dry leaves at the side, -pulled off their white gloves, and sending two men to hunt thru the -wagons for axes to cut the poles. Si and Shorty roused up the stupid -teamsters to unhitch the mules and get them behind the wagon to pull it -back. Alas for their carefully brushed pantaloons and well-blackened -shoes, which did not last a minute in the splashing mud. - -The Wagon Master had in the meanwhile laid in a fresh supply of epithets -and had a fresh batch to swear at. He stood up on the bank and yelled -profane injunctions at the soldiers like a Mississippi River Mate at a -boat landing. They would not work fast enough for him, nor do the right -thing. - -The storm at last burst. November storms in Tennessee are like the -charge of a pack of wolves upon a herd of buffalo. There are wild, -furious rushes, alternating with calmer intervals. The rain came down -for a few minutes as if it would beat the face off the earth, and the -stream swelled into a muddy torrent. Si's paper collar and cuffs at once -became pulpy paste, and his boiled shirt a clammy rag. In spite of this -his temper rose to the boiling point as he struggled thru the sweeping -rush of muddy water to get the other wagons out of the road and the -ammunition wagon pulled back a little ways to allow the poles to be -piled in front of it. - -The dashing downpour did not check the Wagon Master's flow of profanity. -He only yelled the louder to make himself heard above the roar. The rain -stopped for a few minutes as suddenly as it had begun and Col. -McTarnaghan came up with all his parade finery drenched and dripping -like the feathers of a prize rooster in a rainy barnyard. His Irish -temper was at the steaming point, and he was in search of something to -vent it on. - -"You blab-mouthed son of a thief," he shouted at the Wagon Master, "what -are you ordering my men around for? They are sent here to order you, not -you to order them. Shut that ugly potato trap of yours and get down to -work, or I'll wear my saber out on you. Get down there and put your own -shoulders to the wheels, you misbegotten villain. Get down there into -the water, I tell you. Corporal, see that he does his juty!" - -The Wagon Master slunk down the hill, where Shorty grabbed him by the -collar and yanked him over to help push one of the wagons back. The -other boys had meanwhile found axes, cut down and trimmed up some pine -poles and were piling them into the chuckhole under Si's practical -guidance. A double team was put on the ammunition wagon, and the rest of -Co. Q came up wet, mad and panting. A rope was found and stretched ahead -of the mules, on which the company lined itself, the Colonel took his -place on the bank and gave the word, and with a mighty effort the wagon -was dragged up the hill. Some other heavily loaded ammunition wagons -followed. The whole regiment was now up, and the bigger part of it lined -on the rope so that these wagons came up more easily, even tho the rain -resumed its wicked pounding upon the clay soil. - -Wading around thru the whirling water. Si had discovered, to his -discomfiture, that there was a narrow, crooked reef that had to be kept -to. There were deep overturning holes on either side. Into one of these -Si had gone, to come again floundering and spurting muddy water from his -mouth. - -Shorty noted the place and took the first opportunity to crowd the Wagon -Master into it. - -A wagon loaded with crackers and pork missed the reef and went over -hopelessly on its side, to the rage of Col. McTamaghan. - -"Lave it there; lave it there, ye blithering numbskulls," he yelled, -"Unhitch those mules and get 'em out. The pork and wagon we can get when -the water goes down. If another wagon goes over Oi'll rejuce it every -mother's son of yez, and tie yez up by the thumbs besides." - -Si and Shorty waded around to unhitch the struggling mules, and then, -taking poles in hand to steady themselves, took their stations in the -stream where they could head the mules right. - -Thru the beating storm and the growing darkness, the wagons were, one by -one, laboriously worked over until, as midnight approached, only three -or four remained on the other side. Chilled to the bone, and almost -dropping with fatigue from hours of standing in the deep water running -like a mill race. Si called Al Klapp, Sib Ball and Jesse Langley to take -their poles and act as guides. - -Al Klapp had it in for the sutlers. He was a worm that was ready to -turn. He had seen some previous service, and had never gone to the -Paymaster's table but to see the most of his $13 a month swept away by -the sutler's remorseless hand. He and Jesse got the remaining army -wagons over all right. The last wagon was a four-horse team belonging to -a sutler. - -The fire of long-watched-for vengeance gleamed in Al's eye as he made -out its character in the dim light. It reached the center of the stream, -when over it went in the rushing current of muddy water. - -Al and Jesse busied themselves unhooking the struggling mules. - -The Colonel raged. "Lave it there! Lave it there!" he yelled after -exhausting his plentiful stock of Irish expletives. "But we must lave a -guard with it. Capt. Sidney Hyde, your company has been doing less than -any other. Detail a Sergeant and 10 men to stand guard here until -tomorrow, and put them two thick-headed oudmahouns in the creek on guard -with them. Make them stand double tricks. - -"All right. It was worth it," said Al Klapp, as the Sergeant put him on -post, with the water running in rivulets from his clothes. "It'll take a -whole lot of skinning for the sutlers to get even for the dose I've -given one of them." - -"B'yes, yoi've done just splendid," said the Colonel, coming over to -where Si and Shorty were sitting wringing the water and mud from their -pantaloons and blouses. "You're hayroes, both of yez. Take a wee drap -from my canteen. It'll kape yez from catching cold." - -"No, thankee, Kurnel," said Si, blushing with delight, and forgetting -his fatigue and discomfort, in this condescension and praise from his -commanding officer. "I'm a Good Templar." - -"Sinsible b'y," said the Colonel approvingly, and handing his canteen to -Shorty. - -"I'm mightily afraid of catching cold," said Shorty, reaching eagerly -for the canteen, and modestly turning his back on the Colonel that he -might not see how deep his draft. - -"Should think you were," mused the Colonel, hefting the lightened -vessel. "Bugler, sound the assembly and let's get back to camp." - -The next day the number of rusty muskets, dilapidated accouterments and -quantity of soiled clothes in the camp of the 200th Ind. was only -equaled by the number of unutterably weary and disgusted boys. - - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. A NIGHT OF SONG HOME-SICKNESS AND ITS OUTPOURING IN MUSIC. - -IT WAS Sunday again, and the 200th Ind. still lingered near Nashville. -For some inscrutible reason known only to the commanding officers the -brigade had been for nearly a week in camp on the banks of the swift -running Cumberland. They had been bright, sunshiny days, the last two of -them. Much rain in the hill country had swollen the swift waters of the -Cumberland and they fiercely clamored their devious way to the broad -Ohio. The gentle roar as the rippling wavelets dashed against the rock -bound shores sounded almost surf-life, but to Si, who had never heard -the salt waves play hide-and-go-seek on the pebbly beach, the -Cumberland's angry flood sang only songs of home on the Wabash. He had -seen the Wabash raging in flood time and had helped to yank many a head -of stock from its engulfing fury. He had seen the Ohio, too, when she -ran bank full with her arched center carrying the Spring floods and -hundreds of acres of good soil down to the continent-dividing -Mississippi, and on out to sea. His strong arms and stout muscles had -piloted many a boat-load of boys and girls through the Wabash eddies and -rapids during the Spring rise, and as he stood now, looking over the -vast width of this dreary waste of waters, a great wave of home-sickness -swept over him. - -After all, Si was only a kid of a boy, like thousands of his comrades.' -True, he was past his majority a few months, but his environment from -youth to his enlistment had so sheltered him that he was a boy at heart. - -"The like precurse of fierce events and prologue to the omen coming on" -had as yet made small impression upon him. Grim visaged war had not -frightened him much up to that time. He was to get his regenerating -baptism of blood at Murfreesboro a few weeks later. Just now Si Klegg -was simply a boy grown big, a little over fat, fond of mother's cooking, -mother's nice clean feather beds, mother's mothering, if the truth must -be told. He had never in his life before been three nights from under -the roof of the comfortable old house in which he was born. He had now -been wearing the blue uniform of the Union a little more than three -months, and had not felt mother's work-hardened hands smoothing his -rebellious hair or seen her face or heard a prayer like she could make -in all that three months. - -"Shucks!" he said fretfully to himself as he looked back at the droning, -half asleep brigade camp, and then off to the north, across the boiling -yellow flood of waters that tumbled past the rocks far below him. - -"A feller sure does git tired of doin' nothin'." - -Lusty, young, and bred to an active life, Si, while he did not really -crave hustle and bustle, was yet wedded to "keeping things moving." He -had already forgotten the fierce suffering of his early marching—it -seemed three years to him instead of three months back; he had forgotten -the graybacks, the wet nights, the foraging expeditions, the extra guard -duty and all that. There had been two days of soft Autumn sunshine in a -camp that was almost ideal. Everything was cleaned up, mended up, and -the men had washed and barbered themselves into almost dude-like -neatness. Their heaviest duties had been lazy camp guard duty, which -Shorty, growing indolent, had declared to be "dumned foolishness," and -the only excitement offered came from returning foraging parties. There -was no lurking enemy to fear, for the country had been cleared of -guerrillas, and in very truth the ease and quietness of the days of -inactivity was almost demoralizing the men. - -There had been no Sunday services. The 200th Ind. was sprawled out on -the ground in its several hundred attitudes of ease, and those with whom -they were brigaded were just as carelessly disposed. - -As Si sauntered aimlessly back to look for Shorty, the early twilight -began to close in as the sun slid down behind the distant hills. -Campfires began to glow as belated foragers prepared their suppers, and -the gentle hum of voices came pleasantly to the ear, punctuated by -laughter, often boisterous, but quite as often just the babbling, cheery -laugh of carefree boys. - -Si felt—well, Si was just plain homesick for mother and the girls, and -one particular girl, whose front name was Annabel, and he almost felt as -though he didn't care who knew it. - -The air was redolent with the odor of frying meat. Mingled with this -were vagrant whiffs of cooking potatoes, onions, chickens, and the -fragrance of coffee steaming to blackest strength, all telling tales of -skillful and successful foraging, and it all reminded Si of home and the -odors in his mother's kitchen. - -Si couldn't find Shorty, so he hunched down, silent and alone, beside -his tent, a prey to the blue devils. It would soon be Christmas at home. -He could see the great apple bins in the cellar; the pumpkins in the hay -in the barn; the turkeys roosting above the woodshed; the yards of -encased sausages in the attic; he could even smell the mince meat -seasoning in the great stone jar; the honey in the bee cellar; the huge -fruit cake in the milk pan in the pantry; since he could remember he -seen and smelled all these, with 57 varieties of preserves, "jells," -marmalades, and fruit-butters thrown in for good measure at Christmas -time. He had even contemplated with equanimity all these 21 Christmases, -the dose of "blue pills" that inevitably followed over-feeding at Mother -Klegg's, and now on his 22d Christmas he might be providing a target for -a rebel bullet. - -Suddenly Si noticed that the dark had come; the fragrance of tobacco -from hundreds of pipes was filling the air, and from away off in the -distance the almost Indian Summer zephyrs were bringing soft rythmic -sounds like—surely—yes, he caught it now, it was that mighty soother of -tired hearts— - -"Jesus, lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly. While the billows -near me roll. While the tempest still is high." - -Si shut his eyes lest the tear drops welling suddenly up fall on his -uniform, not stopping to think that in the gloom they could not be seen. - -Miles away the singers seemed to be when Si caught the first sounds, but -as the long, swinging notes reached out in the darkness, squad after -squad, company after company, regiment after regiment took up the grand -old hymn until Si himself lifted up his not untuneful voice and with the -thousands of others was pleading— - -"Hide me, oh, my Savior hide, 'Till the storm of life is past; Safe into -the haven guide. Oh, receive my soul at last." - -and the song rose and swelled out and up toward heaven, and stole away -off to the horizon till the whole vast universe seemed filled with the -sacred melody. As the last words and their music faded out in space. -Shorty lunged down beside Si. - -"Say, Pard," he began banteringly, "you've missed yer callin'. Op'ry -oughter have been yer trade." - -"Oh, chop off yer chin music for a minute. Shorty," broke in Si. "In the -dark here it seemed most as though I was at home in the little old -church with Maria and Annabel and Pap and Mother, and us all singing -together, and you've busted it—ah! listen!" - -From not far away a bugler had tuned up and through the fragrant night -came piercingly sweet— - -"I will sing you a song of that beautiful land—" - -Then near at hand a strong, clear, musical tenor voice took up the -second line, - -"The far away home of the soul," - -and almost instantly a deep, resonant bass voice boomed in— - -"Where no storms ever beat on that glittering strand While the years of -eternity roll," - -and soon a hundred voices were making melody of the spheres as they sang -Philip Phillips's beautiful song. - -"That was Wilse Hornbeck singin' tenor," said Si, as the song ended. - -"And it was Hen Withers doin' the bass stunt," returned Shorty. - -"You just oughter hear him do the ornamental on a mule whacker. Why, Si, -he's an artist at cussing. Hen Withers is. Sodom and Gomorrah would git -jealous of him if he planted himself near 'em, he's that wicked." - -"Well, he can sing all right," grunted Si. - -Just then Hen Withers, in the squad some 50 feet away broke into song -again— - -"Oh, say, can you see by the dawn's early light" - -It welled up from his throat like the pipe from a church organ, and as -mellow as the strains from a French horn. When the refrain rolled out -fully 3,000 men were singing, yelling and shouting in frenzied fervor— - -"And the Star Spangled banner. In triumph shall wave, O'er the land of -the free, And the home of the brave." - -While Hen Withers rested on his well-earned laurels, a strong, clear -voice, whose owner was probably thinking of home and the shady gloom of -the walk through the grove to singing school with his sweetheart, -trilled an apostrophe to the queen of light. - -"Roll on, silvery moon, Guide the traveler on his way," - -but he had it pretty much to himself, for not many knew the words, and -he trailed off into - -"I loved a little beauty, Bell Brandon," - -then his music died out in the night. - -It was now the "tenore robusto" who chimed in bells, on a new battle -song that held a mile square of camp spellbound: - -"Oh, wrap the flag around me, boys, - -To die were far more sweet With freedom's starry emblem, boys. - -To be my winding sheet. In life I loved to see it wave - -And follow where it led, And now my eyes grow dim, my hands - -Would clasp its last bright shred. Oh, I had thought to meet you, boys, - -On many a well-worn field When to our starry emblem, boys, - -The trait'rous foe should yield. But now, alas, I am denied - -My dearest earthly prayer, You'll follow and you'll meet the foe, - -But I shall not be there." - -Wilse Hornback knew by the hush of the camp as the sound of his -wonderful voice died on the far horizon that he had his laurels, too, -and so he sang on while the mile square of camp went music-mad again as -it sang with him— - -"We are springing to the call of our brothers gone before, Shouting the -battle cry of freedom. And we'll fill the vacant ranks with a million -freemen more. Shouting the battle cry of freedom." - -Chorus: - -"The Union forever! Hurrah, boys. Hurrah; Down with the traitor and up -with the Star, While we rally 'round the Flag, boys, We'll rally once -again, Shouting the battle cry of freedom. - -We will welcome to our numbers the loyal, true and brave. Shouting the -battle cry of freedom, And although they may be poor, not a man shall be -a slave. Shouting the battle cry of freedom. - -So we're springing to the call from the East and from the West, Shouting -the battle cry of freedom, And we'll hurl the rebel crew from the land -we love the best, Shouting the battle cry of freedom." - -In the almighty hush that followed the billows of sound, some sweet- -voiced fellow started Annie Laurie, and then sang— - -"In the prison cell I sit" - -with grand chorus accompaniment. Then Wilse Hornback started and Hen -Withers joined in singing the Battle Hymn— - -"Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord," - -and oh, God of Battles! how that army of voices took up the refrain— - -"Glory, glory, hallelujah," - -and tossed and flung it back and forth from hill to hill and shore to -shore till it seemed as though Lee and his cohorts must have heard and -quailed before the fearful prophecy and arraignment. - -Then the "tenore robusto" and the "basso profundo" opened a regular -concert program, more or less sprinkled with magnificent chorus: -singing, as it was easy or difficult for the men to recall the words. -You must rummage in the closets of memory for most of them! The Old -Oaken Bucket; Nellie Gray; Anna Lisle; No, Ne'er Can Thy Home be Mine; -Tramp, Tramp, Tramp; We are Coming, Father Abraham; Just as I Am; By -Cold Siloam's Shady Rill—how those home-loving Sunday school young boys -did sing that! It seemed incongruous, but every now and then they -dropped into these old hymn tunes, which many a mother had sung her baby -to sleep with in those elder and better days. - -The war songs are all frazzled and torn fragments of memory now, covered -with dust and oblivion, but they were great songs in and for their day. -No other country ever had so many. - -Laughter and badinage had long since ceased. Flat on their backs, gazing -up at the stars through the pine and hemlock boughs, the boys lay -quietly smoking while the "tenore robusto" assisted by the "basso -profundo" and hundreds of others sang "Willie, We Have Missed You," -"Just Before the Battle, Mother," "Brave Boys Are They," and the "Vacant -Chair." - -In a little break in the singing. Hen Withers sang a wonderful song, now -almost forgotten. It was new to the boys then, but the bugler had heard -it, and as Hen's magnificent voice rolled forth its fervid words the -bugle caught up the high note theme, and never did the stars sing -together more entrancingly than did the "wicked mule whacker" and that -bugle— - -"Lift up your eyes, desponding freemen. Fling to the winds your needless -fears. He who unfurled our beauteous banner Says it shall wave a -thousand years." - -On the glorious chorus a thousand voices took up the refrain in droning -fashion that made one think of "The Sound of the Great Amen." - -"A thousand years, my own Columbia! Tis the glad day so long foretold! -'Tis the glad mom whose early twilight Washington saw in times of old." - -By the time Hen had sung all of the seven verses the whole brigade knew -the refrain and roared it forth as a defiance to the Southern -Confederacy, which took on physical vigor in the days that came after, -when the 200th Ind. went into battle to come off victorious on many a -fiercely contested field. - -Then the tenor sang that doleful, woe begone, hope effacing, heart- -string-cracking "Lorena." Some writer has said that it sung the heart -right out of the Southern Confederacy. - -"The sun's low down the sky, Lorena, The snow is on the grass again." - -As Wilse Hornbeck let his splendid voice out on the mournful cadences, -Si felt his very heart strings snap, and even Shorty drew his breath -hard, while some of the men simply rolled over, and burying their faces -in their arms, sobbed audibly. - -Wilse had not counted on losing his own nerve, but found his voice -breaking on the melancholy last lines, and bounding to his feet with a -petulant, - -"Oh, hang it!" - -"Say, darkies, hab you seen de Massa" - -came dancing up from the jubilating chords of that wonderful human music -box, and soon the camp was reeling giddily with the jolly, rollicking, - -"Or Massa ran, ha! ha!! The darkies stay, ho! ho!!" - -Then, far in the distance a bugle sounded "lights out," and the songfest -was at an end; as bugler after bugler took it up, one by one the -campfires bAlinked out, and squad after squad sank into quiet. - -"I feel a heap better somehow," remarked Si, as he crawled under his -blanket. - -"Dogged if I hain't had a sort of uplift, too," muttered Shorty, as he -wrapped his blanket round his head. In the distance a tenor voice was -singing as he kicked out his fire and got ready for bed— - -"Glory, glory, hallelujah." - - - - - - - - - -SI KLEGG THRU THE STONE RIVER CAMPAIGN AND IN WINTER QUARTERS AT -MURFREESBORO. - - - -By John McElroy - - - -Book Two - - -Published By The National Tribune Co., Washington, D. C. Second Edition -Copyright 1910 - - - -THE SIX VOLUMES SI KLEGG, Book I, Transformation From a Raw Recruit SI -KLEGG, Book II, Through the Stone River Campaign SI KLEGG, Book III, -Meets Mr. Rosenbaum, the Spy SI KLEGG, Book IV, On The Great Tullahoma -Campaign SI KLEGG, Book V, Deacon's Adventures At Chattanooga SI KLEGG, -Book VI, Enter On The Atlanta Campaign - - - - - - - -Si Sat Down Hard 20 frontispiecee (114K) - - - -titlepage (70K) - - -CONTENTS - - -PREFACE - -SI KLEGG - - -CHAPTER I. THROUGH MUD AND MIRE - -CHAPTER II. SECOND DAY'S MARCH - -CHAPTER III. STILL ON THE MARCH - -CHAPTER IV. THE SUNSHINE OF LIFE - -CHAPTER V. LINING UP FOR BATTLE - -CHAPTER VI. BATTLE OF STONE RIVER - -CHAPTER VII. AFTER THE FIRST DAY - -CHAPTER VIII. A GLOOMY NEW YEAR'S DAY - -CHAPTER IX. VICTORY AT LAST - -CHAPTER X. THE VICTORIOUS ARMY - -CHAPTER XI. WINTER QUARTERS - -CHAPTER XII. ADDING TO THEIR COMFORT - -CHAPTER XIII. "HOOSIER'S REST" - -CHAPTER XIV. DEACON KLEGG'S SURPRISE - -CHAPTER XV. DEACON KLEGG'S ARRIVAL IS MISTAKEN - -CHAPTER XVI. IN A NEW WORLD - -CHAPTER XVII. THE DEACON'S INITIATION - -CHAPTER XVIII. THE DEACON IS SHOCKED - -CHAPTER XIX. THE DEACON IS TROUBLED - -CHAPTER XX. THE DEACON BUTTS IN - -CHAPTER XXI. THE PERPLEXED DEACON - -CHAPTER XXII. TRYING TO EDUCATE ABRAHAM LINCOLN - - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - -The Aid Spatters Mud on si 18 - -Si Sat Down Hard 20 - -Stop Beatin' Them Mules' 22 - -Frozen in the Mud 29 - -What Do You See, Shorty?' 33 - -Si Reports to the Colonel 38 - -Preparing Supper 40 - -After the Mules Stampeded 44 - -The Adjutant Smiled on si and Shorty 49 - -The Prisoners 50 - -A Close Shave 62 - -Groundhog Fled 64 - -Earning Thirteen Dollars a Month 57 - -A Frightened Teamster 70 - -A Lucky Fall 81 - -Finding a Good Thing 85 - -Si's Challenge 90 - -A Disagreeable Awakening for Shorty and Si. 94 - -Si Klegg Fell Without a Groan 113 - -Shorty Thinks si Does Not Look Like a Ghost. 118 - -Shorty Retaliates. 126 - -The House Beautiful. 133 - -Solid Comfort. 135 - -"Am I a Soldier of the Cross?" 139 - -Shorty Confiscates the Caboose Door. 143 - -Si Defended the Plunder. 148 - -Si Floors the Wagonmaster. 154 - -A Stoutly-built, Farmer-looking Man Entered the Train 164 - -The Free Fight. 169 - -Mr. Klegg Ready for Action. 172 - -Deacon Klegg and the Knight of The Golden Circle. - -The General Interrupts the Game 184 - -Meeting Between si and his Father. 189 - -His Honor and the 'attorney' Bucked And Gagged. - -Shorty Admonishes the Orderly 198 - -The Deacon is Shocked. 210 - -Trying to Conquer the Deacon's Scruples. 212 - -'How Much'd You Give for This?' 216 - -Deacon Klegg Looks over the Larder. 220 - -Hit My Jug a Welt With his Sword 231 - -'Pulled out a Fat Roll of Greenbacks. 235 - -I'm Gwine Ter Kill Ye, Right Here 246 - -Do You Hear? Git on Your Mule at Onct.' - -"I'll Invite Your Attention to the Emancipation Proclamation 264 " - -The Deacon Gives Abe a Lesson in Wood Chopping 269 - - - - - - - - - -PREFACE - -"Si Klegg, of the 200th Ind., and Shorty, his Partner," were born years -ago in the brain of John McElroy, Editor of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE. - -These sketches are the original ones published in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, -revised and enlarged some what by the author. How true they are to -nature every veteran can abundantly testify from his own service. -Really, only the name of the regiment was invented. There is no doubt -that there were several men of the name of Josiah Klegg in the Union -Army, and who did valiant service for the Government. They had -experiences akin to, if not identical with, those narrated here, and -substantially every man who faithfully and bravely carried a musket in -defense of the best Government on earth had some times, if not often, -experiences of which those of Si Klegg are a strong reminder. - -THE PUBLISHERS. THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE RANK AND FILE -OF THE GRANDEST ARMY EVER MUSTERED FOR WAR. - - - - - - - -SI KLEOG - - - - - -CHAPTER I. THROUGH MUD AND MIRE DUTY'S PATH LEADS THE 200TH IND. -SOUTHWARD FROM NASHVILLE. - -"SHORTY" said Si Klegg, the morning after Christmas, 1862, as the 200th -Ind. sullenly plunged along through the mud and rain, over the roads -leading southward from Nashville, "they say that this is to be a sure- -enough battle and end the war." - -"Your granny's night-cap they do," answered Shorty crossly, as he turned -his cap around back ward to stop the icy current from chasing down his -backbone. "How many thousand times 's that bin stuffed into your ears? -This is the forty-thousandth mile we've marched to find that battle that -was goin' to end the war. And I'll bet we'll march 40,000 more. This war -ain't goin' to end till we've scuffed the top off all the roads in -Kentucky and Tennessee, and wore out God's patience and all the sole- -leather in the North. I believe it's the shoe-makers that's runnin' this -war in the interest o' their business." - -The cold, soaking rain had reduced the most of the 200th Ind. to a mood -when they would have 16disputed the Ten Commandments and quarreled with -their mothers. - -"There's no use bein' crosser'n a saw-buck, if you are wet, Shorty," -said Si, walking to the side of the road and scraping off his generous- -sized brogans several pounds of stiff, red mud. "They say this new -General with a Dutch name is a fighter from Wayback, an' he always licks -the rebels right out of their boots. I'm sure, I hope it's so. I like -huntin' ez well ez anybody, an' I'll walk ez fur ez the next man to find -something to shoot. But I think walkin' over two States, backward and -forward, is altogether too much huntin' for so little shootin'. Don't -you?" - -"Don't worry," snapped Shorty. "You'll git all the shootin' you want -before your three years are up. It'll keep." - -"But why keep it so long?" persisted Si. "If it can be done up in three -months, an' we kin git back home, why dribble it out over three years? -That ain't the way we do work back home on the Wabash." - -"Confound back home on the Wabash," roared Shorty. "I don't hear nothin' -else, day and night, but 'back home on the Wabash.' I've bin on the -Wabash, an' I don't want to never see the measly, muddy, agery ditch -agin'. Why, they have the ager so bad out there that it shakes the -buttons off a man's clothes, the teeth out of his head, the horns off -the cows. An' as for milk-sickness." - -"Shorty!" thundered Si, "stop right there. If you wasn't my pardner I'd -fight you this minute. I kin join in jawin' about the officers an' the -17Government. A great deal of your slack that I can't agree with I kin -put up with, but you mustn't say nothin' against my home in the Wabash -Valley. That I won't stand from no man. For fear that I may lose my -temper I'm goin' away from you till you're in better humor." - -With that Si strode on ahead, feeling as cross and uncomfortable -internally as he was ill-at-ease externally. He hated above all things -to quarrel with Shorty, but the Wabash Valley, that gardenspot of earth, -that place where lived his parents, and sister, and Annabel but the -subject was too sore to think about. - -Presently an Aid came galloping along the middle of the road, calling -upon the men to make way for him. His horse's hoofs threw the mud in -every direction, and Si caught a heavy spatter directly in his face. - -"Confound them snips of Aids," said he angrily, as he wiped the mud off. -"Put on more airs than if they was old Gen. Scott himself. Always -pretend to be in such a powerful hurry. Everybody must hustle out of -their way. I think that fool jest did that on purpose." - -The rain kept pouring down with tormenting persistence. Wherever Si -looked were drenched, de pressed-looking men; melancholy, steaming -horses; sodden, gloomy fields; yellow, rushing streams, and boundless -mud that thousands of passing feet were churning into the consistency of -building-mortar. - -Si had seen many rainy days since he had been in the army, but this was -the first real Winter rain 18he had been out in. - -Jabe Belcher, the most disagreeable man in Co. Q, was just ahead of him. -He stepped into a mudpuddle, slipped, threw the mud and water over Si, -and his gun, which he flung in the effort to save himself, struck Si on -the shoulder. - -The Aid Spatters Mud on si 18 - -"Clumsy lunkhead!" roared Si, as ill-tempered now as anybody. "Couldn't -you see that puddle and keep out of it? You'd walk right into the -Cumberland River if it was in front of you. Never saw such a bat-eyed -looney in my life." - -"If the Captain wasn't lookin'," retorted Belcher, "I'd shut up both of -them dead-mackerel eyes o' your'n, you backwoods yearlin'. I'll settle -with you after we git into camp. Your stripes won't save you." - -"Never mind about my stripes, old Stringhalt. I kin take them off long -enough to wallop you." - -Si was in such a frame of mind that his usual open-eyedness was gone. -The company was wading across a creek, and Si plunged in without a -thought. He stepped on a smooth stone, his feet went from under him and -he sat 'down hard and waist-deep in much the coldest water that he ever -remembered. - -"O, Greenland's icy mountains," was all that he could think to say. - -The other boys yelled: - -"Come on to camp, Si. That's no place to sit down." - -"Feet hurt, Si, and goin' to rest a little?" - -"This your day for taking a bath, Si?" - -"Thinks this is a political meetin', and he's to take the chair." - -"Place Rest!" - -"When I sit down, I prefer a log or a rail; but some men's different." - -"See a big bass there, Si, an' try to ketch him by settin' down on him?" - -"Git up, Si; git up, an' give your seat to some lady." - -Si Sat Down Hard 20 - -Si was too angry to notice their jibes. He felt around in the icy water -for his gun, and clambered out on the bank. He first poured the water -out of his gun-barrel and wiped the mud off. His next thought was the -three days' rations he had drawn 20 that morning. He opened his -haversack, and poured out the water it had caught. With it went his -sugar, coffee and salt. His hardtack was a pasty mess; his meat covered -with sand and dirt. He turned the haversack inside out, and swashed it -out in the stream. - -Back came Capt. McGillicuddy, with water streaming from the down-turned -rim of his hat, and his humor bad. He was ignorant of Si's mishap. - -"Corporal Klegg, what are you doing back here? Why aren't you in your -place? I've been looking all around for you. The company wagon's stalled -back somewhere. That spavin-brained teamster's at his old tricks. I want -you to take five men off the rear of the company, go back and find that -wagon, and bring it up. Be smart about it." - -"Captain," remonstrated Si, "I'm wetter'n a drowned rat!" - -"Well, who in thunder ain't?" exploded the Captain. "Do I look as dry as -a basket of chips? Am I walking around in a Panama and linen clothes? -Did you expect to keep from getting your feet wet when you came into the -army? I want none of your belly-aching or sore-toeing. You take five men -and bring up that wagon in a hurry. Do you hear me?" - -And the Captain splashed off through the red mud to make somebody else -still more miserable. - -Si picked up his wet gun from the rain-soaked sod, put it under his -streaming overcoat, ordered the five drenched, dripping, dejected boys -near him to follow, and plunged back into the creek, which had by this -time risen above his knees. He was past the stage of anger now. He -simply wished that he was dead and out of the whole business. A nice, -dry grave on a sunny hillock in Posey County, with a good roof over it -to keep out the rain, would be a welcome retreat. - -In gloomy silence he and his squad plodded back through the eternal mud -and the steady downpour, through the miry fields, through the swirling -yellow floods in the brooks and branches, in search of the laggard -company wagon.22 - -Two or three miles back they came upon it, stuck fast in a deep mud- -hole. The enraged teamster was pounding the mules over the head with the -butt of his blacksnake whip, not in the expectation of getting any -further effort out of them he knew better than that but as a relief to -his overcharged heart. - -"Stop beatin' them mules over the head," shouted Si, as they came up. -Not that he cared a fig about the mules, but that he wanted to "jump" -somebody. - -Stop Beatin' Them Mules' 22 - -"Go to brimstone blazes, you freckle-faced Posey County refugee," -responded Groundhog, the teamster, in the same fraternal spirit. "I'm -drivin' this here team." He gave the nigh-swing mule a "welt" that would -have knocked down anything else than a swing mule. - -"If you don't stop beatin' them mules, by thunder, I'll make you." - -"Make's a good word," responded Groundhog, giving the off-swing mule a -wicked "biff." "I never see anything come out of Posey County that could -make me do what I didn't want to." - -Si struck at him awkwardly. He was so hampered by his weight of soggy -clothes that there was little force or direction to his blow. The soaked -teamster returned the blow with equal clumsiness. - -The other boys came up and pulled them apart. - -"We ain't no time for sich blamed nonsense," they growled. "We've got to -git this here wagon up to the company, an' we'll have the devil's own -time doin' it. Quit skylarkin' an' git to work." - -They looked around for something with which to make pries. Every rail -and stick within a quarter of a mile of the road was gone. They had been -used up the previous Summer, when both armies had passed over the road. - -There was nothing to do but plod off through mud and rain to the top of -a hill in the distance, where there was a fence still standing. A half -an hour later each of the six came back with a heavy rail on his -shoulder. They pried the wagon out and got it started, only to sink -again in another quagmire a few hundred yards further on. - -Si and the boys went back to get their rails, but found that they had -been carried off by another squad that had a wagon in trouble. There was -nothing to do but to make another toilsome journey to the fence for more -rails. - -After helping the wagon out they concluded it24 would be wiser to carry -their rails with them a little way to see if they would be needed again. - -They were many times that afternoon. As dark ness came on Si, who had -the crowning virtue of hopefulness when he fully recognized the -unutterable badness of things, tried to cheer the other boys up with -assertions that they would soon get into camp, where they would find -bright, warm fires with which to dry their clothes, and plenty of hot -coffee to thaw them out inside. - -The quick-coming darkness added enormously to the misery of their work. -For hours they struggled along the bottomless road, in the midst of a -ruck of played-out mules and unutterably tired, disgusted men, laboring -as they were to get wagons ahead. - -Finally they came up to their brigade, which had turned off the road and -gone into line-of-battle in an old cotton-field, where the mud was -deeper, if possible, than in the road. - -"Where's the 200th Ind.?" called out Si. - -"Here, Si," Shorty's voice answered. - -"Where's the fires, Shorty," asked Si, with sinking heart. - -"Ain't allowed none," answered his partner gloomily. "There's a rebel -battery on that hill there, and they shoot every time a match is -lighted. What've you got there, a rail? By George, that's lucky! We'll -have something to keep us out of the mud." - -They laid down the rail and sat upon it. - -"Shorty," said Si, as he tried to arrange his aching bones to some -comfort on the rail, "I got mad at you for cussin' the Wabash this -morning. I ain't a fluid talker such as you are, an' I can't find words -to say25 what I think. But I jest wisht you would begin right here and -cuss everybody from Abe Lincoln down to Corporal Si Klegg, and -everything from the Wabash in Injianny down to the Cumberland in -Tennessee. I'd like to listen to you." - - - - - -CHAPTER II. SECOND DAY'S MARCH THE LONG COLUMN CRAWLS THROUGH RAIN AND -COLD TO MURFREESBORO. - -SI KLEGG was generous with his rail, as he was with all things among his -comrades. He selected the softest part, in the center, for him self and -Shorty, and then invited the other boys to share its hospitalities. They -crowded up close to him and Shorty on either side, and there seemed to -come a little warmth and dryness from the close contact of their bodies. - -Si was so mortally tired that it seemed a great relief just to sit still -and rest, though the rain continued to pour down. - -Shorty fished some hardtack and fried pork out of his haversack, and -also gave him a handful of ground coffee. Si munched the crackers and -meat, with an occasional nip at the coffee. His spirits began to rise -just a trifle. He was too healthy in body and mind to be totally -downcast for long. - -"'Tis n't much of a supper," he said to himself, "but it beats nothin' -at all miles and miles. Besides, I was mighty lucky in gettin' the -biggest rail. Some that the other boys has are no good at all. They'll -let 'em right down in the mud. And most o' the boys has no rails at all. -I'm awfully sorry for 'em." - -Then he began to wonder if they were not 27overcautious about the -nearness of the enemy. He had been in the army just long enough to have -contempt for the stories that were always current with a certain class -about the proximity and strength of the enemy. Shorty was not of that -kind; but, then, Shorty was as liable to be imposed upon as anybody. - -"How do you know there's a rebel battery on the hill out there?" he -finally asked Shorty. - -"They belted into the Oshkosh Terrors, out there to our right, killed a -mule, scared two teamsters to death, and knocked over three or four -kittles of coffee. It was awful unlucky about the coffee," an swered -Shorty. - -"How long ago was that?" - -"O, several hours ago. Just after we turned into the field, and long -before you come up." - -"Mebbe they've gone off now. Mebbe, if they're there yet, their -ammynition's so soaked that they can't shoot. What do you say to -startin' a little fire? It'd be an immense comfort. Unless we can dry -out a little we'll be soaked into such mush before morning that we can't -keep our shape, and they'll have to ladle us up with dippers." - -"It's strictly against orders." - -"You mean it was against orders several hours ago. I can't see nothin' -on that hill over there. I've been watchin' for half an hour. There's -nothin' movin'. Mebbe the orders has been changed, an' you haint heard -about it," persisted Si. "Mebbe the Orderly that was bringing 'em 's -stuck in the mud. Mebbe the rain's soaked 'em so's they can't be read. -If anybody's got any dry matches I'm goin' to chance28 it." - -Word was passed along the rail, and at length one of the boys was found -to have some matches in a tin box which was proof against the rain. - -Si got out his knife and whittled down a corner of the rail until he -came to the dry part, and got off some shavings. Splinters were -contributed by the others, and after several failures a small flame was -started. - -"Here, what in the world are you men doing there?" came in the -stentorian tones of the Colonel, who it startled Si to discover was -sitting a short distance behind him. "Put that light out this instant." - -Even before the command could be obeyed, four great flashes burned out -like lightning in the murky darkness on the hill-top. Four cannon -roared, and four shells screeched toward Si and his companions, who -instinctively toppled over backward into the mud. One of the shells -struck in the mud a few yards in front, burst with a deafening report, -and sent over them a deluge of very wet Tennessee real estate. - -"The battery's out there yit, Si," said Shorty, as they gathered -themselves up and carefully stamped out every spark of fire. - -"It's 'tendin' strictly to business," remarked Wes Williams. - -"Its ammynition don't seem to be a mite wet," added Jim Hutchinson. - -"There, you see, now," said the Colonel sternly. "I'll tie up by the -thumbs the next man that dares scratch a match." - -"You jest kin if I do," muttered Si, scraping off some of the -superabundant mud, and resuming his29 seat on the rail. "This dog's -cured of suckin' eggs." He set the butt of his gun down in front of him, -clasped his hands around the barrel, leaned his head on them, and went -to sleep. - -He was so tired that he could have slept anywhere and in any position. -He was dimly conscious during the night that the rain ceased and that it -turned bitter cold. He was not going to wake up for trifles like that, -though. When Si went to sleep he devoted himself entirely to that and -nothing else. It 30 was one thing that he never allowed any interference -with. - -But with the first gray streaks of dawn in the east some uneasy, -meddlesome spirit in the 200th Ind. happened to be awake, and he -awakened the Adjutant, who cuffed and shook the headquarters drummer -until he awakened and beat the reveille. This aroused the weary Orderly- -Sergeants, who started upon the task of getting up the bone-wracked, -aching-muscled men. In 10 minutes there was enough discontent and bitter -grumbling in the 200th Ind. to have furnished forth a new political -party. - -The awakening process finally reached those of Co. Q who had roosted on -Si's rail all night. - -Si vigorously insisted on being let alone; that he hadn't been asleep -five minutes, and that, anyhow, it was not his turn to go on guard. But -the Orderly-Sergeant of Co. Q was a persistent fellow, and would not be -denied. - -When Si finally tried to rise he found that, in addition to the protests -of his stiff legs, he was pinned firmly down. Feeling around to -ascertain the cause, he discovered that the tail of his overcoat and his -shoes had become deeply imbedded in the mud, and frozen solidly there. -Shorty was in the same fix. - -Frozen in the Mud 29 - -"Got to shuck yourself out o' your overcoat, and leave them gunboats -anchored where they are," remarked Shorty, doing as he said, and falling -in for roll-call in his stocking feet. - -After roll-call Si got a hatchet from one of the boys and chopped his -and Shorty's shoes out. The overcoats were left for subsequent effort, -for the first thing was to get some wood and water and cook breakfast.31 - -The morning was bitter cold and the sky overcast, but Si felt that this -was a thousand times better than the cheerless rain, which seemed to -soak his very life out of him. - -He pounded most of the frozen mud off his shoes, picked up the camp- -kettle, and started off for wood and water, broke the ice on the creek, -took a good wash, and presently came back with a load of dry pine and a -kettle full of water. - -"My joints feel like I think an old wagon does after it's gone about a -year without greasing," he remarked to Shorty, who had a good fire -going; "but I think that after I get about a quart o' hot coffee, inside -of me, with a few pounds o' pork and crackers, I'll be nearly as good as -new again. My, how good that grub does smell! An' did you ever see such -a nice fire?" - -He chopped his and Shorty's overcoats out while Shorty was cooking -breakfast, and when at last he sat down on one end of his rail and ate -enough toasted hard bread and crisp fried side-meat to feed a small -family for a week, washing it down with something near a quart of black -coffee sweetened with coarse brown sugar, life began again to have some -charms for him. - -"You're sure that dumbed battery's gone that shot at us last night, are -you, Shorty?" he said, as he drained his cup, fastened it again to the -strap of his haversack, and studied the top of the hill with a critical -eye. - -"They say it is," said Shorty, between bites. "While you was down at the -crick a man come over from the camp o' the Oshkosh Terrors, and said two -o' their32 companies 'd been onto the hill, and the rebels had gone." - -"I wish them Oshkosh fellers'd mind their own business," said Si, -irritably, as he picked up his gun and began rubbing the mud and rust -off. "They're entirely too fresh for a new regiment. That battery was -none of theirs. It was ours, right in our front, an' if they'd let it -alone till after breakfast we'd gone up and taken it. It was just the -right size for the 200th Ind., and we wanted a chance at it. But now -they've had to stick in and run it off." - -"Don't worry," said Shorty, fishing out another cracker; "it hasn't gone -too far. 'Taint lost. You'll have a chance at it some other time. Mebbe -to-day yet." - -The army began to move out very promptly, and soon the 200th Ind. was -called to take its place in the long column that crawled over the hills -and across the valleys toward Murfreesboro, like some gigantic blue -serpent moving toward his prey. - -Miles ahead of the 200th Ind.'s place in the column the rebels were -offering annoying disputation of farther progress. Lines as brown as the -dried leaves on the oak trees would form on the hilltops, batteries -would gallop into position, and there would be sharp bangs by the cannon -and a sputter of musketry-fire. - -Then the long, blue serpent would wriggle out of the road into the -fields, as if coiling to strike. Union batteries would rush on to -hilltops and fire across valleys at the rebel cannon, and a sputter of -musketry would answer that from the leaf-brown ranks on the hilltops, -which would dissolve and march back33 to the next hilltop, where the -thing would be gone over again. The 200th Ind. would occasionally see -one of these performances as it marched over and down one of the hills. - -As the afternoon was wearing away the 200th34 Ind. kept nearing the -front, where this was going on. Finally, when the dull day was shading -into dusk, and the brigade ahead of it was forming in the field at the -foot of a hill to open a bickering fire against the dun line at the top, -the 200th Ind. was taken off the road and marched away over to the left, -where it was put into line in front of a dense grove of cedars. - -"Capt. McGillicuddy," commanded the Colonel to the Captain of Co. Q, -"advance your company as skirmishers to the edge of the cedars, and send -a Corporal and five men into the thicket to see if there is anything -there." - -"Corporal Klegg," said the Captain, "take five men off the left of the -company and go in and see what's in there." - -Si was instantly fired with the importance of the duty assigned him. He -sent two of his men to the left, two to the right, while he and Shorty, -a little distance apart, struck for the heart of the thicket. They made -their way with difficulty through the dense chaparral for some minute's, -and then stopped, as they heard voices and the crashing of branches in -front. - -Si's heart thumped against his ribs. He looked over to his left, and saw -Shorty standing there peering earnestly into the brush, with his gun -cocked and ready to fire. He ran over to him and whispered: - -"What do you see, Shorty?" - -What Do You See, Shorty?' 33 - -"Nothin' yit, but I expect to every minute," replied Shorty, without -turning his intent eyes. Si's gun was already cocked, and he bent his -head 35forward eagerly, to get a better view. But he could see nothing, -except that the tops of the bushes were shaking. - -"Shall we skip back an' report?" asked Si. - -"I ain't goin' till I see something," said Shorty, stoutly. - -"Nor me," echoed Si, rather ashamed that he had suggested it. - -"Steady, there; steady, on the right! Come for ward with that left -company," called out a stern voice in front. - -"Must be a full regiment in there," whispered Si, craning his neck still -farther. The tramping and crashing increased. - -"Steady, men, I tell you! Steady! Press on the center," commanded the -unseen Colonel. "Forward! Forward!" - -In spite of his perturbation, Si noticed that the sounds did not seem to -be coming any nearer. - -"We must get a squint at 'em," he said, desperately, to Shorty. "Let's -git down an' crawl forward. There must be an openin' somewhere." - -They got down on their hands and knees, so as to avoid as many as -possible of the thickly-interlaced branches. Soon they came to a rift -which led to an opening of some rods in circumference. Raising their -heads cautiously above a moss-covered log, they saw in the opening a -stalwart Sergeant with five or six men. The Sergeant was standing there -with his eyes fixed on the tops of the trees, apparently thinking of the -next series of commands he was to give, while the men were busy breaking -limbs off the cedars. - -Si and Shorty immediately grasped the situation.36 - -"Forward, Co. Q!" yelled Si at the top of his lungs. "Surrender, you -consarned rebels, or we'll blow your heads off," he added, as he and -Shorty jumped forward into the opening and leveled their guns on the -squad. - -"What'n thunder was you fellers makin' all that racket fur," Si asked -the Sergeant as he was marching him back to the skirmish-line. - -"Ouah Cunnel," explained the Sergeant, "wuz afeared you'ns 'd try to -flank us through the thicket, and sent me down to make a rumpus and hold -you back while he fit you in front. But whar's your company?" - -"We'll come to it soon," said Si. - - - - - -CHAPTER III. STILL ON THE MARCH SI AND SHORTY STOP ON THE WAY LONG -ENOUGH TO BAG SIX REBS. - -SI CALLED out to the other boys by name to come up and join him. - -The rebel Sergeant mentally tallied off each name as it was called. A -flush of shame and anger mounted to his face as Si concluded. - -"Gol darn hit," he said, "you'uns hain't got ez many ez we'uns; they -hain't nigh ez good men ez we'uns, an' they'uns ain't heah. We'uns air -Tennesseans, an' you'uns hain't." - -"We've got enough, an' they're good enough," said Si sententiously. -"Injianny turns out better men than Tennessee ever dreamed o' doing." - -"I don't believe hit a mite," said the Sergeant, stooping down and -picking up a piece of cedar, which made a formidable club. "We'uns is -not a-gwine back with yo'uns nary a step. By rights, we'uns orter take -yo'uns back with we'uns. But I'm willin' to call hit off, and let yo'uns -go ef yo'uns 'll let we'uns go. Is hit a bargain?" - -"Not by 40 rows o' apple trees it ain't," said Si, stepping back a -little to get a better range, and fixing his bayonet. "I've set my heart -on takin' you back to Co. Q, an' back to Co. Q you'll go, if Si Klegg -knows himself."38 - -"And you'll go in a hurry, too," said Shorty. "It's gettin' late, and -I'm always afraid to be out after dark. Mosey, now!" - -The other rebels were picking up clubs similar to the Sergeant's and -casting their eyes on him for the signal to attack. - -"See here," said Si desperately, cocking his gun. "Don't waste no more -time in words. This hain't a debatin' society. You're goin' back to Co. -Q or going somewhere else thunderin' quick. Sergeant, if you make a move -agin me I'll surely blow your head off en you, an' jab my bayonet -through the next man. My partner, Shorty, is a worse man than I am, an' -I can't tell how many of you he'll kill. He's awful quick-tempered, too, -towards evening, an' liable to begin shooting any minute without -warnin'. It'll save several lives if you start right off on the jump, -straight toward the rear, an' keep it up, with out looking to the right -or left, until you reach Co. Q. You'll find the trail we made comin' in. -Take it this minute." - -The rebel Sergeant's eyes looked directly into the dark muzzle of Si's -gun. They glanced along the barrel, and met one eye looking directly -through the sights, while the other was closed, in the act of taking -deliberate aim. He decided with great promptness that there were many -reasons why he should prefer to be a live rebel in a Yankee prison, -rather than a badly-disfigured dead one in a lonely cedar thicket. He -dropped his club, turned around, and made his way along the path over -which Si had come. The rest followed, with Si and Shorty a few paces in -the rear. - -Palpitating with pride, Si marched his prisoners up to the company, who -gave him three cheers. The Captain ordered him to report with his -prisoners to the Colonel. - -Si Reports to the Colonel 38 - -The Colonel praised him with words that made his blood tingle.40 - -The skirmishing off to the right had now ceased. The rebels had fallen -back to the next hilltop, and the 200th Ind. was ordered to go into camp -where it stood. - -Preparing Supper 40 - -It was a fine place for a camp. The mud of the day before was frozen -into stony hardness. The wagons had no difficulty in coming up. There -was wood and water in abundance, and it seemed that the command "Break -ranks March!" had hardly been uttered when great, bright, comfort-giving -fires of fragrant cedar rails flashed up all along the line. - -Si and Shorty found several cedar stumps and logs, which they rolled -together, and made a splendid fire. They cooked themselves an ample -supper of fried pork, toasted hardtack, and strong, fragrant coffee, -which they devoured with an appetite and a keen enjoyment only possible -to healthy young men who have had a day of active manuvering and -marching in the crisp, chill air of December. - -Then they gathered a lot of cedar branches, and made a thick mattress of -them near the fire, upon which to spread their blankets for the night. - -This was a new suggestion by Shorty, and an amazing success. - -"I declare, Shorty," said Si, as he lay down on the bed to try it, "I -often wonder where you get all your ideas. For a man who wasn't raised -on the Wabash you know an awful sight. Mebbe, if you'd actually been -born in Posey County you'd a-knowed enough to be a Jigadier-Brindle. -Then I'd a lost you for a pard. This's a great invention. Why, it's -softer and comfortabler than one of mother's feather beds. When I get -out of the army, I'm going to sleep on nothin' but cedar boughs." - -"There, you're at it again the Wabash forever," returned Shorty, good- -humoredly. "They raise the finest corn and cattle in the world on the -Wabash, I'll admit, and some fairly good soldiers. But where'll you get -any cedars there to make beds with? You'll have to go back to sleepin' -on wheat straw and corn husks, with chicken-feather pillers. But after42 -the way you stood up to that rebel Sergeant to-day I'll never say -another word about ager and milk-sick en the Wabash, and I'll lick any -other feller that does. There wasn't a speck of ager in your gizzard -when you ordered him forward, or you'd blow his Southern Confederacy -head off." - -"There was more ager there than you thought, Shorty," Si admitted -softly. "I was awfully scared, for there was six to us two, and if that -feller 'd had the right kind of sand he'd a-jumped me at once, before I -could get my gun up. The moment he began to palaver I knowed I had him. -But I'd 'a' died in my tracks before I'd let him go, and I knowed you -would, too. You're the best pard a feller ever had." - -And he reached over and took Shorty's rough hand and squeezed it -affectionately. - -"I can bet on you every time, even when I don't think it's quite safe to -bet on myself. And, Shorty," he continued, with his eyes kindling, "it -was worth all that we've gone through since we've been in the army, even -all that time in the rain, to have the Colonel speak as he did to us -before the rest of the boys. I'd be willing to enlist three years more -if father and mother and sisters, and and Annabel could have heard him. -I tell you, war has some glorious things in it, after all." - -He sat there on his bed before the fire, with his feet curled up under -him in the comfortable way that it takes months of field service to -acquire, and gazed steadily into the bank of glowing coals. They -suffused his face and body with their generous warmth, and helped lift -his soul toward the skies.43 - -He was much happier than he had ever been before in his life. The trials -of the day before were hardly more than a far-away dream. The fears and -anxieties of the coming battle were forgotten. The ruddy embers became a -radiant vista, which Pride and Hope and Joy filled with all that he -wanted to see. He saw there the dear old home on the Wabash, his father -seated by the evening lamp reading the paper, while his mother knit on -the other side of the table. His sisters were busy with some feminine -trifles, and Annabel had come in to learn the news. They would hear what -he had done, and of the Colonel's words of praise before the regiment, -and his father's heart would glow with pride and his mother's eyes -suffuse with tears. And Annabel but it passed words, passed thought, -almost, what she would say and think. - -Just then tattoo rang out clear and musical on the chill night air. The -rattling military "good night" had never before had any special charms -for Si. But now he thought it an unusually sweet composition. - -"I declare," he said to Shorty, "that sheepskin band of our'n is -improving. They're getting to play real well. But I ought to write a few -lines home before taps. Got any paper. Shorty?" - -"Much paper you'll find in this regiment after that rain," said Shorty -contemptuously, as he knocked the ashes out of his pipe, and started to -fall in for roll-call. "Every mite of paper anybody has was soaked to -spitwads. But mebbe the Orderly might have a sheet." - -After roll-call Si went to the Orderly-Sergeant.44 - -Nothing in reason could then be refused Si, and the Orderly tore a -couple of leaves out of the back of his treasured diary, which had -escaped the rain, and handed them to him. Si fished his stub of a pencil -out of his blouse-pocket, laid the paper on the back of a tin plate, and -began: - -"Somewhere in Tennessee, December the 27th, 1862. - -"Dere Annabel: We're movin' on Murphysboro, where we expect a big fite. -There's bin fitin' goin' on ever since we left Nashville, but the 200th -Ind. hain't had no hand in it so far, except this after noon me and -Shorty" - -He stopped, stuck his pencil in his mouth, and began to study just what -words he should use to describe the occurrence. He wanted to tell her -all that was bubbling in his heart, and yet he was afraid she would -think him an intolerable boaster, if he told it in just the words that -came to him. He was more afraid of that little country girl's -disapproval than of all the rebels in Murfreesboro. - -There were yells, the rattling of chains, and the sound of galloping -hoofs coming toward him. - -"Hi, there; stop them condemned mules!" shouted the voice of a teamster. - -Si jumped to his feet, for the mules were charging directly for his -fire, and were almost upon him. He dropped paper, pan and pencil, and -jumped to one side, just in time to avoid a rush which scattered his -fire, his carefully-prepared bed, and all his be longings under 24 -flying, hard-pounding hoofs. - -After the Mules Stampeded 44 - -"Blast mules, anyhow," said the driver, coming up with his whip in his -hand. "I didn't hev nothin' for them to eat but a cottonwood pole that I -cut down in the bottom. But they must have smelt fodder over there -somewhere, and they broke for it like the devil beatin' tanbark. Hope -you weren't hurt, pard." - -Si and Shorty fixed up their fire again, rearranged46 their scattered -cedar boughs, and did the best they could with their torn blankets. - -Si found that a mule's hoof had landed squarely on his tin plate, mashed -all future usefulness out of it, and stamped his letter to Annabel into -unrecognizability. - -He threw the rent fragments into the fire, sighed deeply, and crawled -under the blankets with Shorty, just as three sounding taps on the bass- -drum commanded silence and lights out in the camp. - -48 - - - - -CHAPTER IV. THE SUNSHINE OF LIFE SI FEELS ONCE MORE THAT LIFE IS REALLY -WORTH LIVING. - -THERE come times in every man's life when he feels himself part of the -sunshine that illumines and warms the earth: - -The lover, after he has won his best girl's consent. - -The candidate, after he has been elected by a big majority. - -The valedictorian, after his address has been received with bursts of -ringing applause. - -The clerk, after he has been admitted into partnership. - -The next morning the camp of the 200th Ind. seemed to Si Klegg one of -the most delightful places on earth. - -The sun shone brightly and cheerily through the crisp December air. The -fires of cedar rails sent up a pungent, grateful fragrance. Hardtack, -pork and coffee tasted better than he had ever known them. - -Everybody noticed him and spoke pleasantly to him. The other boys of Co. -Q called out cheerily to him from their fires. Those from other -companies would stroll over to take a look at him and Shorty, and his -comrades would point them out proudly as fair specimens of Co. Q, and -what it was capable of doing when called upon in an emergency. - -The Adjutant Smiled on si and Shorty 48 - -The Captain spoke very cordially to him and Shorty, the busy Adjutant -stopped and greeted them smilingly, and even the grave Colonel singled -them out for a pleasant "Good morning" and an inquiry as to whether they -had everything they wanted. It did not seem to Si that there was -anything more on earth just then for which he could ask. - -The 200th Ind. having been at the head of the 49column when it halted, -was to take the rear for that day's march, and so remained in camp for a -while to let the rest pass on. - -After getting things ready for the march Si and Shorty took a stroll -through the camp to see what was to be seen. They came across their -prisoners seated around a fire, under guard. - -How different they looked from what they did the evening before, when -the two partners encountered them in the depths of the cedar brake. Then -they seemed like fierce giants, capable of terrible things, such as -would make the heart quail. Now, powerless of harm, and awed by the -presence of multitudes of armed men in blue filling the country in every -direction that they looked, they appeared very commonplace, ignorant, -rough men, long-haired, staring-eyed, and poorly-clad in coarse, -butternut-dyed homespun, frayed and tattered. - -"Father gits better men than them to work on the farm for $8 a month," -Si remarked to Shorty, after a lengthened survey of them. - -"Eight dollars a month is Congressman's wages to what they git for -fightin' for the Southern Confederacy," answered Shorty. "I don't s'pose -any one of 'em ever had eight real dollars in his pocket in his life. -They say they're fightin' to keep us from takin' their niggers away from -'em, and yit if niggers wuz sellin' for $1 a-piece not one of 'em could -buy a six-months'-old baby. Let's go up and talk to 'em." - -"I don't know 'bout that," said Si, doubtfully. "Seems to me I wouldn't -be particularly anxious to see men who'd taken me prisoner and talked -very cross about blowin' my blamed head off."50 - -"O, that's all right," answered Shorty confidently. "Words spoken in the -heat of debate, and so on. They won't lay them up agin us. If they do, -and want any satisfaction, we can give it to 'em. I kin lick any man in -that crowd with my fists, and so kin you. We'll jest invite 'em to a -little argyment with nature's weepons, without no interference by the -guard. Come on." - -The Prisoners 50 - -The prisoners returned their greetings rather pleasantly. They were so -dazed by the host of strange faces that Si and Shorty seemed, in a -measure, like old acquaintances. - -"Had plenty to eat, boys," asked Shorty, familiarly, seating himself on -a log beside them and passing his pipe and tobacco to the Sergeant. - -"Plenty, thankee," said the Sergeant, taking the pipe and filling it. -"More'n we'uns 've had sence we left home, an' mouty good vittles, too. -You Yanks sartinly live well, ef yo'uns don't do nothin' else." - -"Yes," said Shorty, with a glance at his mud-stained garments, "we're -bound to live high and dress well, even if we don't lay up a cent." - -"You sartinly do have good cloze, too," said the Sergeant, surveying the -stout blue uniforms with admiration. "Yo'uns' common soldiers 've better -cloze than our officers. We'uns got hold o' some o' yo'uns' overcoats, -and they wear like leather." - -"There's leather in 'em," said Shorty unblushingly. "I tell you, old Abe -Lincoln's a very smart man. He saw that this war was costin' a heap of -money, especially for clothes. He got a bright idee that by soaking the -clothes when they were new and green in the tan-vats, jest after the -leather wuz taken out, they'd take up the strength o' the leather out o' -the juice, and wear always. The idee worked bully, and now old Abe goes -every morning to where they're makin' clothes and sees that every stitch -is put to soak." - -"Nobody but a Yankee'd thought o' that," said the rebel reflectively.52 - -"You bet," assented Shorty. "Jeff Davis'd never think of it if he lived -to be as old as Methuselah. But that's only the beginnin' of Abe -Lincoln's smartness." - -"He's a durned sight smarter man than we'uns thought he wuz when we -begun the war," admitted the Sergeant. "But we'uns 'll wollop him yit, -in spite of his smartness." - -"We kin tell more about that a few months later," returned Shorty. "It's -never safe to count the game until the last hand's played. We hain't -fairly begun to lead trumps yit. But what are you fellers fighting for, -anyhow?" - -"We'uns foutin' for our liberty, and t' keep yo'uns from takin' our -niggers away." - -The reply that came to Shorty's lips was that they seemed to be losing a -great deal of liberty rather than gaining it, but he checked this by the -fear that it would be construed as an ungentlemanly boast of their -capture. He said, instead: - -"I never knowed as any of us wanted your niggers—me particularly. I -wouldn't take a wagon load of 'em, even if the freight was prepaid. But, -let me ask you, Sergeant, how many niggers do you own?" - -"I don't own nary one." - -"Does your father own any?" - -"No, he don't." - -"Does your mother, or brothers, uncles, aunts, or cousins own any?" -persisted Shorty. - -"No, thar ain't nary one owned in the hull family." - -"Seems to me," said Shorty, "you're doin' a great deal of fightin' to -keep us from takin' away from53 you something that we don't want and you -hain't got. That's the way it looks to a man from north o' the Ohio -River. Mebbe there's something in the Tennessee air that makes him see -differently. I'll admit that I've changed my mind about a good many -things since we crossed the river." - -"I've alluz said," spoke another of the prisoners, "that this wuz a rich -man's wah and a pore man's fout." - -"Well," said Shorty, philosophically, "for folks that like that sort o' -fightin,' that's the sort o' fightin' they like. I'm different. I don't. -When I fight it's for something that I've got an interest in." - -While the discussion was going on Si had been studying the appearance of -the prisoners. In spite of their being enemies his heart was touched by -their comfortless condition. Not one of them had an overcoat or blanket. -The Sergeant and a couple of others had over their shoulders pieces of -the State House carpet, which had been cut up into lengths and sewed -together for blankets. Another had what had once been a gaudy calico -counterpane, with the pat tern "Rose of Sharon" wrought out in flaming -colors. It was now a sadly-bedraggled substitute for a blanket. The -others had webs of jeans sewed to gether. - -The buttons were gone from their garments in many essential places, and -replaced by strings, nails, skewers and thorns. Worst of all, almost -every one of them was nearly shoeless. A sudden impulse seized Si. - -"Shorty," said he, "these men are going up where the weather is very -cold. I wish I was able to54 give each of them a warm suit of clothes -and a blanket. I ain't though. But I tell you what I will do; I'll go -down to the Quartermaster and see if he'll issue me a pair of shoes for -each of 'em, and charge it to my clothin' account." - -"Bully idee," ejaculated Shorty. "I'll go you halves. Mebbe if they git -their understandin' into Yankee leather it'll help git some Yankee idees -into their understandin'. See?" - -And Shorty was so delighted with his little joke that he laughed over it -all the way to the Quarter master's wagon, and then rehearsed it for -that officer's entertainment. - -Fortunately, the Quartermaster had a box of shoes that he could get at -without much trouble, and he was in sufficiently good humor to grant -Si's request. - -They added a warm pair of socks to each pair of shoes, and so wrought up -the A. Q. M.'s sympathies that he threw in some damaged overcoats, and -other articles, which he said he could report "lost in action." - -They came back loaded with stuff, which they dumped down on the ground -before the prisoners, with the brief remark: - -"Them's, all yours. Put 'em on." - -The prisoners were overwhelmed by this generosity on the part of their -foes and captors. - -"I alluz thought," said the Sergeant, "that you Yankees wuz not half so -bad ez I believed that yo'uns wuz. Yo'uns is white men, if yo'uns do -want to take away our niggers." - -"Gosh," said the man who had uttered the opinion that it was a rich -man's war and a poor man's fight,55 "I'd give all my interest in every -nigger in Tennessee for that ere one pa'r o' shoes. They're beauties, I -tell you. I never had so good a pa'r afore in all my life." - -57 - - - - -CHAPTER V. LINING UP FOR BATTLE THE 200TH IND. GUARDS THE WAGON TRAIN, -AND DEFEATS AN ATTACK. - -"RAIN agin to-day," said Shorty, disgustedly, as, on the morning of Dec. -30, 1862, he crawled out of the shelter which he and Si had constructed -by laying a pole in the crotches of two young cedars, and stretching -their ponchos and pup-tents over it. "Doggoned if I don't believe -Tennessee was left out in the flood, and they've been tryin' to make up -for it ever since. I'd rather have the flood at once, and be done with -it, for then I'd join the navy instead of paddlin' 'round in this dirty -glue that they call mud." "Never saw such a grumbler, Shorty," said Si -cheerily, as he punched the soaked embers together to start a blaze to -boil their coffee by. "Last Summer the dust and dry weather didn't suit -you. Do you want to do your soldierin' in heaven?" - -"Hurry up with your grub, boys," said the Orderly-Sergeant, who came -spattering through the muck of leaves and mud into which the camping- -ground had been trampled. "The regiment's to move in 15 minutes. The -200th Ind. guards wagon-trains to-day. Yesterday Wheeler's cavalry got -in among our wagons and raised thunder—burnt about a mile of 'em." - -Shorty grumbled: "That means a tough day's work pryin' wagons out of the -mud, and restin' ourselves between times runnin' after a lot o' -skippin', cavortin' cavalry that's about as easy to ketch as a half- -bushel o' fleas. Anything I hate it's rebel cavalry58 all tear-around -and yell, and when you git ready to shoot they're on the other side o' -the hill." - -"Well," said Si, removing a slab of sizzling fat pork from the end of -his rammer, laying it on his hardtack, and taking a generous bite, "we -mustn't allow them to take no wagons away from the 200th Ind., slosh -around as they may. We want all that grub ourselves." - -"Well, hump yourselves," said the Orderly-Sergeant, as he spattered on; -"fall in promptly when assembly blows. Got plenty o' cartridges?" - -Two or three hours later every man in the 200th Ind., wet to the skin, -and with enough mud on him to be assessable as real estate, was in a -temper to have sassed his gentle old grandmother and whipped his best -friend. He believed that if there was any thing under heavens meaner -than Tennessee weather it was an army mule; the teamsters had even less -sense and more contrariness than the mules; the army wagon was a -disheartening device of the devil, and Tennessee roads had been -especially contrived by Jeff Davis to break the hearts of Union -soldiers. - -The rain came down with a steady pelt that drove right through to the -body. The wagon wheels sank into every mud-hole and made it deeper. -Prying out the leading ones seemed only to make it worse for the next. -The discouraged mules would settle back in the breech ings, and not pull -an ounce at the most critical moments. The drivers would become -blundering idiots, driveling futile profanity. In spite of all the mud -the striving, pushing, pulling, prying, lifting, shouting 200th Ind. -gathered up on their hands and clothes, it increased momentarily in the -road.59 - -The train had strung out over a mile or more of rocky ledges and abysses -of mire. Around each wagon was a squad who felt deeply injured by the -certainty that their infernal luck had given them the heaviest wagon, -the worst mules, and the most exasperating driver in the whole division. - -"I couldn't 've made a doggoneder fool than Groundhog, that teamster," -said Shorty, laying down his rail for a minute's rest, "if I'd 'a' had -Thompson's colt before my eyes for a pattern. That feller was born -addled, on Friday, in the dark of the moon." - -"Them mules," dolefully corroborated Si, scraping an acre, more or less, -of red Tennessee soil from his overcoat with a stick, "need to be broke -again with a saw-log. Luck for old Job that the devil didn't think o' -settin' him to drive mules. He'd 'a-bin a-goner in less'n an hour." - -"Doggone it, here they come," said Shorty, snatching up his gun. - -Si looked in the direction of Shorty's glance. Out of the cedars, a mile -or more away, burst a regiment of rebel cavalry, riding straight for the -front of the train. - -With his tribe's keen apprehension of danger, Groundhog had jumped from -his saddle, nervously unhitched his mule, and sprung into the saddle -again, ready for instant fight. - -"Get off and hook that mule up agin," commanded Si sternly. "Now get on -your mule and go to the head of your team, take the leaders by the -bridles, and stay there." - -"If you ain't standing there holding your mules when we come back I'll -break your worthless neck."60 - -The bugle sounded "Rally on the right flank," and Si and Shorty joined -the others in a lumbering rush over the miry fields toward the right. -Their soaked clothes hung about them like lead. They had not a spoonful -of breath left when they got to where, half-a-mile away, Co. A had taken -a position in the briers behind a rail fence, and had opened a long- -ranged fire on the cavalry, which was manuvering as if trying to -discover a way to take the company in flank. Another fence ran at right -angles away to the right of Co. A's position. The cavalry started for -that. - -"Capt. McGillicuddy," shouted the Colonel, "take your company back to -that fence as quick as you can, run along back of it, and try to keep -those fellows on the other side." - -Away the panting company rushed for the fence. The field was overgrown -with those pests of the Southern plowman, called locally "devil's shoe -strings," which stretch from furrow-ridge to furrow-ridge, and are -snares to any careless walker. The excited Indianians were constantly -tripped on these, and fell headlong in the mud. Down Si and Shorty went -several times, to the great damage of their tempers. But in spite of all -rain, mud, lack of breath and devil's shoe-strings the company got to -the fence in advance of the cavalry, and opened a scattering fire as -each man could get his damp gun to go off. Si and Shorty ran back a -little to a hillock, from which they could get long-distance shots on -where the cavalry would probably try to tear down the fence. - -"It's all of 600 yards, Si," said Shorty, as he leaned against a young -oak, got his breath back in long gulps, and studied the ground. "We kin -make it, though, with our Springfields, if they'll give us time to cool -down and git our breaths. I declare I want a whole Township of fresh air -every second. That last time I fell knocked enough breath out o' me to -fill a balloon." - -"There, they're sendin' out a squad now to go for the fence," said Si, -putting his sight up to 600 yards. "I'll line on that little persimmon -tree and shoot as they pass it. I'll take the fellow on the clay bank -horse, who seems to be an officer. You take the next one on the spotted -bay." - -"Better shoot at the hoss," said Shorty, fixing his sight. "Bigger mark; -and if you git the hoss you git the man." - -The squad made a rush for the fence, but as the leader crossed the line -Si had drawn on the persimmon tree through his sights, his musket -cracked, and the horse reared and fell over in the mud. Shorty broke the -shoulder of the next horse, and the rider had to jump off. - -"Bully shots, boys. Do it again," shouted the Captain of Co. Q, hurrying -some men farther to the right, to concentrate a fire upon the exposed -point. - -Si and Shorty hastily reloaded, and fired again at the rebels, who had -pressed on toward the fence, in spite of the fall of their leader. But -not having an object in line to sight on, Si and Shorty did not succeed -in bringing anybody down. But as they looked to see the effect, they -also saw a cannon-flash from a hill away off behind the cavalry, and the -same instant its rifled shot took the top off the young oak about six -feet above Si's head.62 - -A Close Shave 62 - -Shorty was the first to recover his wits and tongue. "Doggoned if -somebody else hain't been drawin' a bead on trees," he said, looking -into Si's startled face. "Knows how to shoot, too." - -"I didn't notice that measly gun come up there. Did you, Shorty?" said -Si, trying to get his heart back out of his mouth, so that he could -speak plainly. - -"No. I didn't. But it's there all the same, and the fellers with it have -blood in their eyes. Le's run over to where the other boys are. I'm a -private citizen. I don't like so much public notice." - -They joined the squad which was driving back the rebels who had started -out to break the fence. - -Presently the cavalry wheeled about and disappeared in the woods. The -rear was scarcely out of sight, and the 200th Ind. was just beginning to -feel a sense of relief, when there was a sputter of shots and a chorus -of yells away off to the extreme left. - -"Just as I expected," grumbled Shorty. "They are jumping the rear of the -train now." - -Leaving Co. A to watch the head of the train, the rest of the regiment -bolted off on the double-quick for the rear. They did not get there a -moment too soon. Not soon enough, in fact. As they came over the crest -of the hill they saw Co. B, which had been with the rear, having more -than it could attend to with a horde of yelling, galloping rebels, who -filled the little valley. Co. B's boys were standing up manfully to -their work, and popping away at the rebels from behind fences and rocks, -but the latter had already gotten away from them a wagon which had been -far to the rear, had cut loose the mules and run them off, and were -plundering the wagon, and trying to start a fire under it. - -The fusillade which the regiment opened as the men grained the crest of -the hill, put a different64 complexion on the affair. The rebels -recognized the force of circumstances, and speedily rode back out of -range, and then out of sight. As the last of them disappeared over the -hill the wearied regiment dropped down all around to rest. - -Groundhog Fled 64 - -"We can't rest long, boys," said the sympathetic Colonel; "we've got to -start these wagons along." - -Presently he gave the order: - -"Go back to your wagons, now, and get them out as quickly as you can." - -Si and Shorty took a circuit to the left to get on some sod which had -not been trampled into mortar. They heard a volley of profanity coming -from a cedar brake still farther to the left, and recognized the voice -of their teamster. They went thither, and found Groundhog, who had fled -from the scene, after the manner of his race, at the first sound of -firing, but had been too scared to fasten up his traces when he -unhitched his saddle mule. These had flapped around, as he urged his -steed forward, and the hooks had caught so firmly into the cedars when -he plunged into the thicket that he was having a desperate time getting -them loose. - -"You dumbed, measly coward," said Si. "I told you I'd blow your head -offen you if you didn't stay by them mules. I ought to do it." - -"Don't, Si," said Shorty. "He deserves it, and we kin do it some other -time. But we need him now in our business. He hain't much of a head, but -it's all that he's got and he can't drive without it. Le's git the mule -loose first." - -They got the mule out and turned him around toward the wagons. - -"Now," said Shorty, addressing Groundhog, "you white-livered son-in-law -of a jackass, git back to that wagon as fast as you kin, if you don't -want me to run this bayonet through you." - -There was more straining and prying in the dreary rain and fathomless -mud to get the wagons started.66 - -"Shorty," said Si, as they plodded alongside the road, with a rail on -one shoulder and a gun on the other, "I really believe that this is the -toughest day we've had yet. What d'you s'pose father and mother'd say if -they could see us?" - -Earning Thirteen Dollars a Month 57 - -"They'd probably say we wuz earning our $13 a month, with $100 bounty at -the end o' three years.," snapped Shorty, who was in no mood for -irrelevant conversation. - -So the long, arduous day went. When they were not pulling, pushing, -prying, and yelling, to get the wagons out of mudholes, they were -rushing over the clogging, plowed fields to stand off the nagging rebel -cavalry, which seemed to fill the country as full as the rain, the mud, -the rocks and the sweeping cedars did. As night drew on they came up to -lines of fires where the different divisions were going into line-of- -battle along the banks of Stone River. The mud became deeper than ever, -from the trampling of tens of thousands of men and animals, but they at -least did not have the aggravating rebel cavalry to bother them. They -found their division at last in an old cottonfield, and were instantly -surrounded by a crowd of hungry, angry men. - -"Where in blazes have you fellers bin all day?" they shouted. "You ought -to've got up here hours ago. We're about starved." - -"Go to thunder, you ungrateful whelps," said Si. "You kin git your own -wagons up after this. I'll never help guard another wagon-train as long -as I'm in the army." - - - - - -CHAPTER VI. BATTLE OF STONE RIVER THE 200TH IND. IS PRAISED FOR BRAVERY. - -THE fagged-out 200th Ind. was put in reserve to the brigade, which lay -in the line-of-battle. After having got the train safely into camp, the -regiment felt that it was incapable of moving another foot. - -While their coffee was boiling Si and Shorty broke off a few cedar -branches to lay under them, and keep out the mud. The rain still -drizzled, cold, searching and depressing, but they were too utterly -tired to do anything more than spread their over coats on the branches, -lay their blankets and ponchos over, and crawl in between. - -In the few minutes which they allowed to elapse between getting into -camp and going to sleep they saw and heard something of the preparations -going on around them for the mighty battle, but body and brain were too -weary to properly "sense" these. They hardly cared what might happen to- -morrow. Rest for to-day was everything. They were too weary to worry -about anything in the future. - -"It certainly looks, Shorty," said Si, as he crawled in, "like as if the -circus was in town, and the big show'd come off to-morrow, without -regard to the68 weather." - -"Let it come and be blamed to it," snorted Shorty. "They can't git up -nothin' wuss'n we've bin havin' to-day, let them try their durndest. But -I tell you, Mr. Si Klegg, I want you to lay mighty still to-night. If -you git to rollin' around in your usual animated style and tanglin' up -the bedclothes, I'll kick you out into the rain, and make you stay -there. Do you hear me?" - -"You bet I'll lay quiet," said Si, as together they gave the skillful -little kick only known to veteran campaigners by which they brought the -blankets snugly up around their feet. "You could sooner wake up a fence- -rail than me. I want to tell you, too, not to git to dreamin' of pryin' -wagons out of the mud, and chasin' rebel cavalry. I won't have it." - -The reveille the next morning would have promptly awakened even more -tired sleepers than Si and Shorty. Even before the dull, damp drums -began rolling and the fifes shrieking the air of enforced gaiety along -the sinuous line of blue which stretched for miles through red, muddy -cottonfields and cedar tangles wet as bath-room sponges, there came from -far away on the extreme right a deepening roll of musketry, punctuated -with angry cannon-shots and the faint echo of yells and answering -cheers. - -"That's McCook opening the battle," said the officers, answering the -anxious looks of the men. "He's to hold the rebels out there, while -Crittenden sweeps around on the left, captures Murfreesboro, and takes -them in the rear." - -Miles away to the left came the sound of musketry and cannons, as if to -confirm this. But the firing there died down, while that to the right -increased69 with regular, crashing volleys from muskets and artillery. - -The 200th Ind. was in that exceedingly trying position for soldiers, -where they can hear everything but see nothing. The cedar thicket in -which they stood shut off the view in every direction. The Colonel kept -officers and men standing strictly in place, ready for any contingency. -Si and Shorty leaned on their muskets and anxiously watched the -regimental commander as he sat rigidly in his saddle, with his fixed -gaze bent in the direction of the awful tumult. The Adjutant had ridden -forward a little ways to where he could get a better view. The other -officers stood stiffly in their places, with the points of their drawn -swords resting on the ground, and their hands clasped on the hilts, and -watched the Colonel intently. Sometimes they would whisper a few words -to those standing near them. The Captain of Co. Q drew geometric figures -in the mud with the point of his sword. - -Constantly the deafening crash came nearer, and crept around farther to -the right. - -Si gave a swift glance at Shorty. His partner's teeth were set, his face -drawn and bloodless, his eyes fixed immovably on the Colonel. - -"Awful fightin' goin' on out there, Shorty," said Si, in hushed voice. -"I'm afraid they're lickin' our fellers." - -"Confound it!" snorted Shorty, "why in thunder don't they move us out, -and give us something to do? This is hell standin' here listenin'." - -A teamster, hatless and coatless, with his hair70 standing up, came -tearing through the brush, mounted on his saddle-mule. - -A chorus of yells and curses greeted his appearance. It was immense -relief for the men to have something to swear at. - -A Frightened Teamster 70 - -"Run, you egg-sucking hound. "Run, you scald-headed dominie.71 - -"Somebody busted a cap in your neighborhood, old white-liver." - -"Seen the ghost of a dead rebel, Pilgarlic?" - -"Pull back your eyes, you infernal mulewhacker. A limb'll brush 'em -off." - -"Look at his hair standin' up stiffer'n bristles on a boar's back." - -"Your mules got more sand 'n you. They're standing where you left 'em." - -"Of course, you're whipped and all cut to pieces. You was that when you -heard the first gun crack." - -"Get out of the way, and let him run himself to death. That's all he's -fit for." - -"You've no business in men's clothes. Put on petticoats." - -"Go it, rabbit; go it, cotton-tail you've heard a dog bark." - -"Chickee chickee skip for the barn. Hawk's in the air." - -"Let him alone. He's in a hurry to get back and pay his sutler's bill." - -The teamster gasped out: - -"You'd better all git out o' here as fast as the Lord'll let you. -Johnson's Division's cut all to pieces and runnin'. There'll be a -million rebels on top o' you in another minnit." - -"Capt. McGillicuddy," said the Colonel sternly, but without turning his -head, "either bayonet that cowardly rascal or gag him and tie him to a -tree." - -The Captain turned to give the order to Corp'l Klegg, but the teamster -struck his mule with his whip, and went tearing on through the brush -before the order could be given.72 - -Some severely-wounded men came slowly pushing their way through the -chaparral. - -"It's awful hot out there," they said. "The rebels got the start of us, -and caught our battery horses off to water. They outflanked us bad, but -the boys are standin' up to 'em and they're gettin' help, an 'll lick -the stuffin' out of 'em yet." - -The regiment gave the plucky fellows a cheer. - -A riderless horse, frantic from his wounds and the terrific noise, tore -through the brush, and threatened to dash over Co. Q. Si and Shorty saw -the danger, and before the Captain could give an order they sprang -forward, and, at considerable risk, succeeded in getting hold of the -reins and partially calming the poor brute. The eagles on the saddle -cloth showed that he belonged to a Colonel. He was led to the rear, and -securely haltered to a young cedar. The incident served a purpose in -distracting for awhile the attention of the regiment. - -The noise in front and to the right swept farther away for a little -while, and the men's hearts rose with a cheer. - -"Now the reinforcements are getting in. Why in the world don't they send -us forward?" they said. - -The Colonel still sat rigidly, with his face straight to the front. - -Then the noise began to roll nearer again, and the men's hearts to sink. - -The wounded men coming back became a continuous procession. They spoke -less confidently, and were anxious to know what was taking place on -other parts of the line. - -"The whole infernal Southern Confederacy's out73 there," said one boy, -who was holding his shattered right hand in his left, with his thumb -pressed hard on the artery, to stanch the blood, "in three lines-of- -battle, stretching from daybreak to sunset. The boys have been standing -them off bully, though, but I don't know how long they can keep it up. -Thomas and Crittenden ought to be walking right over every thing, for -there can't be anybody in front of them. They're all out there." - -Two musicians came laboring through, carrying a stretcher on which was -an officer with part of his face shot away. Si felt himself growing -white around the mouth and sick at the stomach, but he looked the other -way, and drew in a long, full breath. - -The storm now seemed to be rolling toward them at railroad speed. -Suddenly the woods became alive with men running back, some with their -guns in their hands, many without. Some were white with fear, and -silent; some were in a delirium of rage, and yelling curses. Officers, -bareheaded, and wildly excited, were waving their swords, and calling -regiments and companies by name to halt and rally. - -The Adjutant came galloping back, his horse knocking the fugitives right -and left. He shouted, to make himself heard in the din: - -"The whole division is broken and going back. Our brigade is trying to -hold the rebels. They need us at once." - -The Colonel turned calmly in his saddle, and his voice rang out clear, -distinct, and measured, as if on parade: - -"Attention, 200th Indiana!" - -"Load at will LOAD!" - -A windrow of bright ramrods flashed and weaved in the air. A wave of -sharp, metallic clicks ran from one end of the line to the other. - -"Shoulder ARMS!" - -"Right FACE!" - -"Forward MARCH!" - -What happened immediately after emerging from the cedars Si could never -afterward distinctly recall. He could only vaguely remember as one does -the impression of a delirium seeing, as the regiment swung from column -into line, a surging sea of brown men dashing forward against a bank of -blue running along a rail fence, and from which rose incessant flashes -of fire and clouds of white smoke. The 200th Ind. rushed down to the -fence, to the right of the others; the fierce flashes flared along its -front; the white smoke curled upward from it. He did not remember any -order to begin firing; did not remember when he began. He only -remembered presently feeling his gun-barrel so hot that it burned his -hand, but this made him go on firing more rapidly than before. He was -dimly conscious of his comrades dropping around him, but this did not -affect him. He also remembered catching sight of Shorty's face, and -noticing that it was as black as that of a negro, but this did not seem -strange. - -He felt nothing, except a consuming rage to shoot into and destroy those -billows of brown fiends surging incessantly toward him. Consciousness -only came back to him after the billows had surged back ward into the -woods, leaving the red mud of the field splotched with brown lumps which -had lately been men.75 - -As his mind cleared his hand flinched from the hot gun-barrel, and he -looked down curiously to see the rain-drops turn into steam as they -struck it. His throat was afire from the terrible powder thirst. He -lifted his canteen to his lips and almost drained it. He drew a long -breath, and looked around to see what had happened since they left the -cedars. Shorty was by his side, and unhurt. He now under stood why his -face was so black. He could feel the thick incrustation of powder and -sweat on his own. Several of Co. Q were groaning on the ground, and the -Captain was detailing men to carry them back to where the Surgeon had -established himself. Two were past all surgery, staring with soulless -eyes into the lowering clouds. - -"Poor Bill and Ebe," said Si, gazing sorrowfully at the bodies. "Co. Q -will miss them. What good boys they—" - -"Were" stuck in his throat. That those strong, active, ever-ready -comrades of a few minutes before now merely "were" was unspeakable. - -His thoughts were distracted by a rebel battery on the hill sending a -volley of shells at the fence. Some went over, and tore gaps in the -cedars beyond. One struck the corner of the fence near him, and set the -rails to flying. - -"I like fence-rails in their place as well as any man," said Shorty, as -they dodged around; "but a fence-rail's got no business sailin' 'round -in the air like a bird." - -An Aid rode up to the Colonel. - -"The General's compliments, Colonel. He directs me to express to you his -highest compliments on the76 splendid manner in which you have defended -your position. You and your men have done nobly. But we are outflanked, -and it will be necessary to retire to a new position about a half-mile -to the rear. You will withdraw your regiment by companies, so as to -attract as little attention from the enemy as possible. As soon as they -are under cover of the cedars you will move rapidly to the new -position." - -"Very well," said the Colonel, saluting. "You will be good enough to say -to the General that my men and myself appreciate highly his praise. We -are proud to receive it, and shall try to deserve it in the future. His -orders shall be immediately obeyed." - -"They call this a civil war," said Shorty, as an other volley of shells -tore around. "Seems to me sometimes that it's too durned civil. If we're -goin' to git out of here, we might save compliments for a quieter time." - -One by one the companies filed back into the cedars, Co. Q being last. -Just as they started the rebels on the opposite hill discovered the -movement, raised a yell, and started across the field. - -"Halt Front!" commanded the Captain. "Those fellows are too tumultuous -and premature. We must check them up a little. Wait till they come to -that little branch, then everybody pick his man and let him have it. Aim -below the belt." - -The frenzy of the first struggle was now gone from Si's mind; instead -had come a deadly determination to make every shot tell. - -"I'm goin' to fetch that mounted officer on their right," he said to -Shorty and those around him. - -"Very well," said Shorty. "I'll take that Captain77 near him who's -wavin' his sword and yellin'. The rest o' you fellers pick out different -men." - -The rebel line was in the weeds which bordered the branch when the -Captain gave the order to fire. - -When the smoke arose the mounted officer and the yelling Captain were -down. - -"If somebody else didn't get them, we did," said Shorty, as they turned -and rushed back into the cedars. - -The rebels were only checked momentarily. They soon came swarming on, -and as Co. Q crashed through the cedars the rebels were yelling close be -hind. Fortunately, they could not do any effective firing, on account of -the brush. But when they came to the edge of the thicket there was a -long run across a furrowed, muddy cottonfield, to reach the knoll on -which the brigade was re-forming. The battery was already in action -there, throwing shells over the heads of Co. Q at the rebels swarming -out of the cedars in pursuit. - -Si and Shorty threw away overcoats, blankets, haversacks and canteens -everything which would impede their running, except their guns and -cartridge-boxes. Their caps were gone, and Si had lost one shoe in the -mud. They all sat down on the ground for a minute and panted to get -their breath. - -The rebels were checked, but only temporarily. They were thronging out -in countless multitudes, lining up into regiments and brigades, -preparatory to a rush across the field upon the brigade. Away to the -right of the brigade rebel batteries had been concentrated, which were -shelling it and the ground to the rear, to prevent any assistance being -sent it.78 - -"Captain," said the Colonel, riding up to Co. Q, "the General says that -we have got to stay here and hold those fellows back until the new line -can be formed along the pike. We haven't ammunition enough for another -fight. You'll have to send a Corporal and a squad back to the pike to -bring up some more. Pick out men that'll be sure to come back, and in a -hurry." - -"Corp'l Klegg," said the Captain, without an instant's hesitation, "you -hear what's to be done. Take five men and go." - -Si looked around to see if there was someone he could borrow a shoe -from. But that was hardly a time when men were likely to lend shoes. He -picked Shorty and four others. They flung down their guns and started on -a run for the pike. - -The batteries were sweeping the fields with shells, but they were so -intent on their errand that they paid no attention to the demoniac -shrieks of the hurtling pieces of iron. - -They gained the other side of the field, but as they entered the welcome -shelter of the woods they encountered an officer with a drawn sword, -commanding a line of men. - -"Stop there, you infernal, cowardly rascals," he yelled. "Pick up those -guns there, and get into line, or I'll shoot you. You, Corporal, ought -to be ashamed of yourself." - -"We're after ammunition for the 200th Ind.," gasped Si. "We must have it -right away. Where's the division ammunition train?" - -"That ammunition story's played. Can't work it on me. Where's your -regiment? Where's your79 caps? Where's your shoes? Where's your guns? -You're rattled out of your senses. Stop here and cool off. Pick up guns -there and fall into line." - -"Name o' God, Lieutenant," said Shorty excitedly. "This's no time for -any foolishness. Our regiment's out there on the hill without any -ammunition. The rebels are gittin' ready to jump it, four or five to -one. Don't fool, for heaven's sake. There's not a minute to waste. Come -with us and help us git the ammunition. That's a blame sight more -important than stoppin' these here runaways, who're no good when they -are stopped. Come along, for God's sake." - -His earnestness impressed the Lieutenant. - -"Lieut. Evans," he called out, "take command of the line while I go back -with these men to the ammunition-train. I can get it quicker for them -than they can. Your Colonel should have sent a commissioned officer with -you." - -"The Colonel needs all the officers he has left with him," panted -Shorty, running ahead of the rest. "Everybody back there's got all he -can attend to, and we couldn't really be spared." - -There was a crowd of similar men surging around the ammunition wagons, -each eager to get his load and rush back. The covers of the wagons had -been torn off, and a man stood in each, pitching the boxes to the -clamoring details. All were excited and reckless. The pitching would be -wild, or the catching bad, and occasionally a box would strike a man on -the head or body and knock him down. He would scarcely stop to swear, -but snatch up his precious box and rush off toward his regiment.80 - -"Open out here, let us in," commanded the Lieutenant, striking right and -left with the flat of his sword. It was not a moment for gentle -courtesies. The crowd opened up, and Si and Shorty pushed in near the -wheels. - -"Now give us six boxes in a hurry," commanded the Lieutenant. - -Si caught the first box, Shorty the second, and before the Lieutenant -was hardly done speaking the rest had theirs, and started back on the -run, accompanied by the Lieutenant. The boxes were very heavy and the -mud was deep, but they went faster than they had ever done, even when -running from the rebels. - -"I'm awfully afraid you'll have a time getting across the field there," -said the Lieutenant, as they came to the edge, and he surveyed the -ground in front doubtfully. "Lieut. Evans says they've moved a battery -up closer, and are sweeping the field with canister." - -"We don't care what they're shootn'," said Si resolutely. "We're goin' -back to the regiment with these boxes, or die a-tryin'." - -"Go on, then, and God help you," said the Lieutenant. "I'd go with you -if I could do any good." - -Si arranged his box for a desperate rush. A blast of canister swept -through, cutting down shrubs, splattering the mud, and shrieking -viciously. - -"Let's get as far as we can before they fire again," he shouted, and -plunged forward. Half-way across the field his foot caught in a devil's -shoe-string, and down he went in the mud, with the heavy box driving him -deeper.81 - -Just then another blast of canister hurtled across the field. - -A Lucky Fall 81 - -"Golly, it was lucky, after all, that I was tripped," said Si, rising, -stunned and dripping. "That load of canister was meant for me -personally." - -Two minutes later he flung the box down before the company, and sank -panting on the ground. The others came up after. Some had teen grazed by -canister, but none seriously wounded. They arrived just in the nick of -time, for the regiment had expended its last cartridge in repulsing the -last assault, and was now desperately fixing bayonets to meet the next -with cold steel. The lids of the boxes were pried off with bayonets, and -the Sergeants ran along the companies distributing the packages. The -assault was met with a stream of fire, given with steady deadliness, -which sent the rebels back to their covert. - -An Aid dashed across the field to the brigade commander. - -"The line is now formed," he said. "Retire your command to it." - -That night, after the battle had ceased, Si and Shorty were seated on a -rail by the Nashville pike munching rations which they had luckily found -in a thrown-away haversack. They were allowed no fires, they had no -blankets nor overcoats, and it was bitter cold. - -"Shorty, you said last night you was sure that they couldn't git up -nothin' to-day that'd be as bad as what we had yesterday," said Si. "I -bel'eve that I'd rather guard wagon-trains and fight cavalry than have -such another day as this." - -"I think the lake of brimstone'd be a pleasant change from this," -snorted Shorty. - -84 - - - - -CHAPTER VII. AFTER THE FIRST DAY THE DISCOMFORTS OF THAT LAST NIGHT OF -1862. - -IT WAS so desperately cold and comfortless that Si and Shorty felt that -they must do something or perish. - -There were some fragments of cracker-boxes near. With these they dug a -hole several inches deep, put some splinters in, and started a stealthy -blaze. They were careful to sit on the side toward the rebels, the -better to hide from them any sight of it. It was a very small fire, but -there was more relief in it than Si had before gotten from those a -thousand times larger. It kept his unshod foot from freezing, and -brought the blood back to his numb hands. - -"Just think, Shorty," said Si; "night before last we had a whole panel -of fence on the fire, and all our blankets and overcoats, and yet you -kicked. I believe this is a judgment on you for not being thankful for -what you receive." - -"Judgment be blowed," ejaculated Shorty. "This ain't no judgment; it's -just durned luck that is, what isn't foolishness in sendin' a boy to -mill. If we'd had only half as many men out there in the cedars as the -rebels had we'd licked thunder out of 'em. We simply couldn't whip four -or five to one. McCook didn't size up his job right." - -"Well, we have something to be thankful for," said Si, determined to see -the bright side of things. "Neither of us got hurt, which is a -blessing." - -"Don't know whether it is or not. If we are goin' to freeze to death -before mornin' I'd rather've bin shot the first volley." - -The misty darkness around them was filled with noise and motion. Men who -had become separated from their regiments were wandering around trying -to find them, in the bewildering maze of men, wagons and animals. -Officers were calling aloud the names of regiments to bring together -stragglers. Aids were rushing around to find Generals and Colonels to -give and receive orders and instructions. Regiments and batteries were -marching hither and yon to get into position and complete the formation -of the line for the morrow's battle. The 200th Ind., which had fallen -back in good order with its brigade, was well together, and made an -island around which a restless sea of humanity flowed and eddied. Cheer -less as was its bivouac in the cold mud, yet it was infinitely -preferable to being lost in the inextricable confusion that reigned over -those cottonfields on that sorrowful night of Dec. 31, 1862. - -"I'm not goin' to freeze to death," said Si, starting up, at last. "I'm -going to look around and see if I can't find something to make us more -comfortable. Shorty, hold on to that hole in the ground. It's all that -we've got left in the world, and if we lose that I don't know what'll -become of us." - -"Better stay here, and not go wanderin' off into that mob," remonstrated -Shorty. "You'll git lost entirely, and never find your way back."85 - -"I'll not get lost," responded Si. "I've got the lay o' the ground in my -mind. If I did," he continued proudly, "it'd be easy to find you agin. -Everybody knows where the 200th Ind. is." - -He went only a little ways, and carefully, at first. - -He was rewarded by kicking against an object which upon examination -proved to be a well-filled haver sack, which someone had flung away in -his hurry. He carried it back, rejoicing, to Shorty. - -Finding a Good Thing 85 - -"Finders is keepers," said Shorty, unbuckling the knapsack. "We'll just -call this fair exchange for what we've throwed away in to-day's hustle. -Let's open her up." - -"Some new recruit's," said Si, as they examined the inside. "Looks like -the one I packed from Injianny. What's this? I declare if it ain't a -pair o' new shoes, and about my size; and some socks. I tell you, -Shorty, I'm in luck." - -He pulled the muddy socks off his shoeless foot, and drew on one of the -warm, homemade affairs, and then the shoe. Both fitted well. He put on -the other sock and shoe, and life at once seemed brighter. - -"Shorty," said he, "I shouldn't wonder if I could find a blanket and an -overcoat. You keep on holding that hole down, and I'll go out agin. I -won't be gone long, for I'm dead tired. Just as soon as I find an -overcoat or a blanket to put between us and the mud, I'll come back and -we'll lay down. Every joint in me aches." - -He started off less carefully this time. His new shoes made him feel -more like walking. He was some distance from the regiment before he knew -it. He found an overcoat. It had been trampled into the mud by thousands -of passing feet, but still it was an overcoat, and it was not a time to -be too nice about the condition of a garment. Presently he found a -blanket in similar condition. He pulled on the overcoat, and threw the -blanket over his 87shoulders. He felt warmer, but they were very heavy. -Still, he thought he would go on a little ways farther, and perhaps he -would find another overcoat and blanket, which would fix out both him -and his partner. - -All this time men were sweeping by him in companies, regiments and -squads; batteries were moving in all directions, and mounted officers -were making their way to and fro. Filling up the spaces between these -were hundreds of men, single and in small groups, wandering about in -search of their regiments, and inquiring of everyone who would stop to -listen to them as to the whereabouts of regiments, brigades and -divisions. No one could give any satisfactory information. Organizations -which had formed a line two miles long in the morning had been driven -back, frequently in tumult and disorder, for miles through the thickets -and woods. Fragmentary organizations had been rallied from time to time. -A fragment of a regiment would rally at one point with fragments of -other regiments and make a stand, while other regiments would rally at -widely-separated places and renew the fight, only to be pushed back -again toward the Nashville Pike. Regiments and brigades that had -remained nearly intact had been rapidly shifted from one point to -another, as they were needed, until the mind could not follow their -changes, or where nightfall had found them, or whither they had been -shifted to form the new line. - -At last Si succeeded in picking up another over coat and blanket out of -the mud, and started to go back to the regiment.88 - -But where was the regiment? He had long since lost all track of its -direction. He had been so intent upon studying the ground for thrown- -away clothing that he had not noticed the course he had taken. - -It suddenly dawned on him that he was but one drop in that great ocean -of 35,000 men, surging around on the square miles lying between the -Nashville Pike and Stone River. He looked about, but could see nothing -to guide him. His eyes rested everywhere on dark masses of moving men. -Those immediately around him were inquiring weariedly for their own -regiments; they had no patience to answer inquiries as to his own. -Discouraged, he determined to walk as straight ahead as possible in the -direction which he had come, and see where that would bring him. He was -so tired that he could scarcely drag one foot after another, but he -plodded on. At length he drew out of the throng a little, and saw that -he was approaching the banks of a large stream. This disheartened him, -for they had not been within miles of Stone River during the day. He saw -a group of men huddled around a larger fire than had been permitted near -the front. This, too, was discouraging, for it showed that he had been -forging toward the rear. But he went up to the group and inquired: - -"Do any o' you know where the 200th Ind. is?" - -The men had become wearied out answering similar questions, and were as -cross as soldiers get to be under similar circumstances. - -"The 200th Ind.," snapped one; "better go back to the rear-guard and -inquire. The straggler-ketchers 've got 'em."89 - -"No," said another; "they skipped out before the rear-guard was formed, -and were all drowned trying to swim the Cumberland." - -"They say the Colonel went on foot," said a third, "and was the first -man in the regiment to reach Nashville. Made the best long-distance run -on record." - -"You infernal liars," roared Si; "if I wasn't so tired I'd lick the -whole caboodle of you. But I'll say this: Any man who says that the -200th Ind. run, or that our brave Colonel run, or that any man in it -run, is a low-down, measly liar, and hain't a grain a' truth in him, and -he daresn't take it up." - -It was a comprehensive challenge, that would have met with instantaneous -response at any other time, but now the men were too exhausted for such -vanities as fisticuffs. - -"O, go off and find your rattled, lousy Hoosiers," they shouted in -chorus. "Go talk to the Provost-Marshal about 'em. He's got the most of -'em. The rest are breaking for the Wabash as fast as their legs can -carry them. Don't be bothering us about that corn-cracking, agery -crowd." - -"Where'd you leave your regiment, you chuckle-headed straggler?" - -"You were so rattled you couldn't tell which way they went." - -"Where's your gun?" - -"Where's your cartridge-box and haversack?" - -"Where's your cap?" - -"You were so scared you'd 'a' throwed away your head if it'd been -loose!" - -"Clear out from here, you dead-beat."90 - -Si's Challenge 90 - -Si was too sick at heart to more than resolve that he would remember -each one of them, and pay them off at some more convenient time. He -turned and walked back as nearly as possible in the direction in which -he had come. He knew that his regiment was at the front, and he had been -forging toward the rear. He knew vaguely that the front was some where -near the Nashville Pike, and as he wearily wound around and through the -bewildering masses, he inquired only for the Nashville Pike. - -He reached the Pike, at last, just as he was sinking with fatigue. The -dreary rain had set in again, and he had determined to give the thing -up, and sit down, and wait for morning. He saw a feeble glimmer of light -at a distance, and decided to make one more effort to reach it, and -inquire for his regiment. - -"Partner, have you any idee where the 200th Ind. is?" he said meekly to -the man who was crouching over the fire in the hole. - -"Hello, Si," said Shorty. "I had given you up long ago. Of course, you -went off and got lost in that mob, as I told you you would. Next time -you'll have sense enough to mind what I say." - -"O, Shorty," groaned Si, "don't say nothing. I've nigh walked my legs -offen me. I think I've tramped over every foot of ground betwixt here -and Overall's Crick. But I've brought back two overcoats and two -blankets." - -"That's bully," answered Shorty, much mollified. "Say, I've got an idee. -D'you see that white thing over there? That's a wagon. The mules 've -been taken away, and it's been standing there for an hour. I've seen the -Lieutenants and the Orderly-Sergeant sneak back there, and I know what -they're up to. They're goin' to sleep in the wagon. Of course, they're -officers, and got the first pick. But we kin92 lay down under it, and -get out of the rain. Be sides, it looks as if the ground was drier up -there than it is down here." - -They slipped quietly back to the wagon, and were lucky enough to find a -little hay in the feed-box, which they could lay down to spread their -blankets upon. They pulled the tail-gate off and set it up on the side -from which the rain was coming. - -"There," said Shorty, as they crawled in. "Si, what'd you do without me? -Ain't I a comfort to you every minute of your life?" - -"You certainly are, Shorty," said Si, as he fell asleep. - - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. A GLOOMY NEW YEAR'S DAY THE TWO ARMIES LIE FROWNING AT -EACH OTHER. - -SI WAS awakened the next morning by the rain dashing down squarely on -his upturned face. He was lying on the flat of his back, sleeping the -sleep of the utterly outworn, and he got the full force of the shower. - -"Plague take it, Shorty," said he, kicking his snoring partner, "you're -at your old tricks again scrougin' me out o' the tent while I'm asleep. -Why can't you lay still, like a white man?" - -"It's you, dod rot you," grumbled Shorty, half-awakening. "You're at -your old tricks o' kickin' the tent down. You need a 10-acre lot to -sleep in, and then you'd damage the fence-corners." - -They were both awake by this time, and looked around in amazement. - -"We went to sleep nice and comfortable, under a wagon last night," said -Shorty, slowly recalling the circumstances. "The two Lieutenants and the -Orderly had the upper berth, and we slept on the ground-floor." - -"Yes," assented Si; "and someone's come along, hitched mules to our -bedroom and snaked it off." - -"Just the way in the condemned army," grumbled Shorty, his ill-humor -asserting itself as he sat up and looked out over the rain-soaked -fields. "Never kin git hold of a good thing but somebody yanks it94 -away. S'pose they thought that it was too good for a private soldier, -and they took it away for some Major-General to sleep under." - -A Disagreeable Awakening for Shorty and Si. 94 - -"Well, I wonder what we're goin' to do for grub?" said Si, as his -athletic appetite began to assert itself. - -"Our own wagons, that we had such a time guarding, are over there in the -cedars, and the rebels are filling themselves up with the stuff that we -were so good to bring up for them." - -"It makes me jest sizzle," said Shorty, "to think of all we went through -to git them condemned wagons up where they'd be handiest for them." - -Si walked down the line toward where the Regimental Headquarters were -established under a persimmon tree, and presently came back, saying: - -"They say there's mighty small chance of gettin' any grub to-day. -Wheeler burnt three or four miles of our wagons yesterday, and's got -possession of the road to Nashville. We've got to fight the battle out -on empty stomachs, and drive these whelps away before we kin get a -square meal." - -Jan. 1, 1863, was an exceedingly solemn, unhappy New Year's Day for the -Union soldiers on the banks of Stone River. Of the 44,000 who had gone -into the line on the evening of Dec. 30, nearly 9,000 had been killed or -wounded and about 2,000 were prisoners. The whole right wing of the army -had been driven back several miles, to the Nashville Pike. Cannon, -wagon-trains, tents and supplies had been captured by the rebel cavalry, -which had burned miles of wagons, and the faint-hearted ones murmured -that the army would have to surrender or starve. - -There was not ammunition enough to fight an other battle. The rebel army -had suffered as heavily in killed and wounded, but it was standing on -its own ground, near its own supplies, and had in addition captured -great quantities of ours.96 - -The mutual slaughter of the two armies had been inconceivably awful -inexpressibly ghastly, shuddering, sickening. They had pounded one -another to absolute exhaustion, and all that sullen, lowering, sky- -weeping Winter's day they lay and glared at one another like two huge -lions which had fanged and torn each other until their strength had been -entirely expended, and breath and strength were gone. Each was too spent -to strike another blow, but each too savagely resolute to think of -retreating. - -All the dogged stubbornness of his race was now at fever point in Si's -veins. Those old pioneers and farmers of the Wabash from whom he sprang -were not particularly handsome to look at, they were not glib talkers, -nor well educated. But they had a way of thinking out rather slowly and -awkwardly it might be just what they ought to do, and then doing it or -dying in the effort which made it very disastrous for whoever stood in -their way. Those who knew them best much preferred to be along with them -rather than against them when they set their square-cornered heads upon -accomplishing some object. - -Si might be wet, hungry, and the morass of mud in which the army was -wallowing uncomfortable and discouraging to the last degree, but there -was not the slightest thought in his mind of giving up the fight as long -as there was a rebel in sight. He and Shorty were not hurt yet, and -until they were, the army was still in good fighting trim. - -The line of the 200th Ind. was mournfully shorter than it was two days -before, but there were still several hundred boys of Si's stamp gathered -resolutely97 around its flag, the game little Colonel's voice rang out -as sharply as ever, and the way the boys picked up their guns and got -into line whenever a sputter of firing broke out anywhere must have been -very discouraging to Gen. Bragg and his officers, who were anxiously -watching the Union lines through their glasses for signs of -demoralization and retreat. - -"We licked 'em yesterday, every time they come up squarely in front o' -the 200th Ind.," Si said to Shorty and those who stood around gazing -anxiously on the masses of brown men on the other side of the field. "We -can do it again, every time. The only way they got away with us was by -sneakin' around through the cedars and takin' us in the rear. We're out -in the open ground now, an' they can't get around our flanks." And he -looked to the extreme right, where every knoll was crowned with a -battery of frowning guns. - -"They got their bellies full o' fightin' yesterday," added Shorty, -studying the array judicially. "They hain't none o' the brashness they -showed yesterday mornin', when they were jumpin' us in front, right, -left and rear at the same minute. They're very backward about comin' -forward acrost them fields for us to-day. I only wish they'd try it on." - -But the forenoon wore away without the rebels showing any disposition to -make an assault across the muddy fields. Si's vigilant appetite took -advantage of the quiet to assert its claims imperiously. - -"Shorty," said he, "there must be something to eat somewhere around -here. I'm goin' to look for it." - -"You'll have just about as much chance of findin' it," said Shorty -dolefully, "among that mob o' 98famished Suckers as you would o' findin' -a straw-stack in the infernal regions. But I'll go 'long with you. We -can't lose the regiment in the day time." - -"By the way, Shorty," said Si, happening to glance at the sleeves of the -overcoats which he had picked up, "we both seem to be Sergeants." - -"That's so," assented Shorty. "Both these are Sergeant's overcoats. -We'll take our guns along, and play that we are on duty. It may help us -out somewhere." - -Things looked so quiet in front that the Captain gave them permission, -and off they started. It seemed a hopeless quest. Everywhere men were -ravenous for food. They found one squad toasting on their rammers the -pieces of a luckless rabbit they had cornered in a patch of briars. -Another was digging away at a hole that they alleged contained a -woodchuck. A third was parching some corn found in a thrown-away feed -box, and congratulating themselves upon the lucky find. - -Finally they came out upon the banks of Stone River at the place to -which Si had wandered during the night. Si recognized it at once, and -also the voices that came from behind a little thicket of paw paws as -those of the men with whom he had had the squabble. - -Si motioned to Shorty to stop and keep silent, while he stepped up -closer, parted the bushes a little, looked through, and listened. - -Two men were standing by a fire, which was concealed from the army by -the paw-paws. Four others had just come up, carrying rolled in a blanket -what seemed to be a dead body. They flung it down99 by the fire, with -exclamations of relief, and unrolled it. It was the carcass of a pig so -recently killed that it was still bleeding. - -"Hello," exclaimed the others joyfully; "where did you get that?" - -"Why," exclaimed one of the others, "we were poking around down there -under the bank, and we happened to spy a nigger cabin on the other side -of the river, hid in among the willers, where nobody could see it. We -thought there might be something over there, so we waded across. There -wasn't any thing to speak of in the cabin, but we found this pig in the -pen. Jim bayoneted it, and then we wrapped it up in our blanket, as if -we wuz taking a boy back to the Surgeon's, and fetched it along. We -couldn't 've got a hundred yards through that crowd if they'd dreamed -what we had. Jerusalem, but it was heavy, though. We thought that pig -weighed a thousand pounds before we got here." - -"Bully boys," said the others gleefully. "We'll have enough to eat, no -matter how many wagons the rebels burn. I always enjoyed a dinner of -fresh pork more on New Year's Day than any other time." - -Si turned and gave Shorty a wink that conveyed more to that observant -individual than a long telegram would have done. He winked back -approvingly, brought up his gun to a severely regulation "carry arms," -and he and Si stepped briskly through the brush to the startled squad. - -"Here," said Si, with official severity; "you infernal stragglers, what -regiments do you belong to? Sneaking out here, are you, and stealin' -hogs instead of being with your companies. Wrap that pig up100 again, -pick it up, and come along with us to Headquarters." - -For a minute it looked as if the men would fight. But Si had guessed -rightly; they were stragglers, and had the cowardice of guilty -consciences. They saw the chevrons on Si's arms, and his positive, -commanding air finished them. They groaned, wrapped up the pig again, -and Si mercifully made the two who had waited by the fire carry the -heaviest part. - -Si started them back toward the 200th Ind., and he and Shorty walked -along close to them, maintaining a proper provost-guard-like severity of -countenance and carriage. - -The men began to try to beg off, and make advances on the basis of -sharing the pork. But Si and Shorty's official integrity was -incorruptible. - -"Shut up and go on," they would reply to every proposition. "We ain't -that kind of soldiers. Our duty's to take you to Headquarters, and to -Headquarters you are going." - -They threaded through the crowds for some time, and as they were at last -nearing the regiment a battery of artillery went by at as near a trot as -it could get out of the weary horses in that deep mire. The squad took -advantage of the confusion to drop their burden and scurry out of sight -in the throng. - -"All right; let 'em go," grinned Si. "I wuz jest wonderin' how we'd get -rid o' 'em. I'd thought o' takin' them into the regiment and then givin' -them a chunk o' their pork, but then I'd get mad at the way they talked -about the 200th Ind. last night, and want to stop and lick 'em. It's -better as it is. We need all that pig for the boys."101 - -Si and Shorty picked up the bundle and carried it up to the regiment. -When they unrolled it the boys gave such lusty cheers that the rebels -beyond the field rushed to arms, expecting a charge, and one of our -impulsive cannoneers let fly a shell at them. - -Si and Shorty cut off one ham for themselves and their particular -cronies, carried the other ham, with their compliments, to the Colonel, -and let the rest be divided up among the regiment. - -One of their chums was lucky enough to have saved a tin box of salt, and -after they had toasted and devoured large slices of the fresh ham they -began to feel like new men, and be anxious for some thing farther to -happen. - -But the gloomy, anxious day dragged its slow length along with nothing -more momentous than fitful bursts of bickering, spiteful firing, -breaking out from time to time on different parts of the long line, -where the men's nerves got wrought up to the point where they had to do -something to get the relief of action. - -Away out in front of the regiment ran a little creek, skirting the hill -on which the rebels were massed. In the field between the hill and the -creek was one of our wagons, which had mired there and been abandoned by -the driver in the stampede of the day before. It seemed out of easy -rifle-shot of the rebels on the hill. - -Si had been watching it for some time. At length he said: - -"Shorty, I believe that wagon's loaded with hard tack." - -"It's certainly a Commissary wagon," said Shorty, after studying it a -little.102 - -"Yes, I'm sure that it's one o' them wagons we was guardin', and I -recollect it was loaded with hard tack." - -The mere mention of the much-abused crackers made both their mouths -water. - -"Seems to me I recognize the wagon, too," said Shorty. - -"Shorty, it'd be a great thing if we could sneak along up the creek, -behind them bushes, until we come opposite the wagon, then make, a rush -acrost the field, snatch up a box o' hardtack apiece, and then run back. -We'd get enough to give each o' the boys a cracker apiece. The wagon'd -shelter us comin' and goin', and we wouldn't get a shot." - -"It might be," said Shorty, with visions of distributing hardtack to the -hungry boys warping his judgment. "The fellers right back o' the wagon -couldn't shoot to any advantage, and them to the right and left are too -fur off. If you say so, it's a go." - -"If the boys could only have one hardtack apiece," said Si, as his last -hesitation vanished, "they'd feel ever so much better, and be in so much -better shape for a fight. Come on, let's try it." - -The rest overheard their plan, and began to watch them with eager -interest. They made a circle to the right, got into the cover of the -brush of the creek, and began making their way slowly and carefully up -to a point opposite the wagon. They reached this without attracting -notice, parted the bushes in front of them carefully, and took a good -survey of the wagon and the hill beyond. - -The wagon was a great deal nearer the hill than had appeared to be the -case from where the103 regiment lay, and even where they stood they were -in easy range of the rebels on the hill. But the latter were utterly -unsuspicious of them. They were crouching down around fires, with their -guns stacked, and the cannoneers of a couple of guns were at some -distance from their pieces, under a brush shelter, before which a fire -smoldered in the rain. - -"It's awful short range," said Si dubiously. "If they were lookin' -they'd tear us and the wagon all to pieces. But our boys is a-watchin' -us, and I don't want to go back without a shy at it. Them fellers seem -so busy tryin' to keep warm that we may get there without their noticin' -us." - -"I never wanted hardtack so much in my life as I do this minute," said -Shorty. "I don't care to live forever, anyway. Let's chance it." - -They pulled off their overcoats, carefully tied up their shoes, shifted -around so as to be completely behind the wagon, and then started on a -rush through the mud. - -For several hundred steps nothing happened, and they began to believe -that they would reach the wagon unnoticed. Then a few shots rang out -over their heads, followed a minute later by a storm of bullets that -struck in the mud and against the wagon. But they reached the wagon, and -sat down, exhausted, on the tongue, sidling up close to the bed to -protect them from the bullets. - -Si recovered his breath first, caught hold of the front board and raised -himself up, saw the boxes of coveted hardtack, and was just putting his -hand on one of them when a shell struck the rear end and tore the canvas -cover off. Si sank back again104 beside Shorty, when another shell burst -under the wagon, and filled the air with pieces of wheels, bed, cracker- -boxes and hardtack. - -"I don't want no hardtack; I want to find the bank o' that crick," -yelled Shorty, starting back on the jump, with Si just six inches -behind. - -The bullets spattered in the mud all around them as they ran, but they -reached the creek bank with out being struck. They were in such a hurry -that they did not stop to jump, but fell headlong into the water. - -"Them hardtack wuz spiled, anyway," said Shorty, as they fished -themselves out, found their overcoats, and made their way back to the -regiment. - -They received the congratulations of their comrades on their escape, and -someone fished out all the consolation that the regiment could offer a -couple of brierwood pipes filled with fragrant kinnikinnick. They sat -down, smoked these, and tried to forget their troubles. - -The cheerless night drew on. No fires were allowed, and the men huddled -together on the wet ground, to get what comfort they could from the -warmth of each other's bodies. - -The temper of the rebels became nastier as the day wore away, and under -the cover of the dark ness they pushed out here and there and opened -worrying fires on the Union line. Suddenly a battery opened up on the -200th Ind. from a bare knoll in front. The rebels had evidently -calculated the range during daylight, and the shells struck around them -in the most annoying way. They threw up showers of mud, scattered the -groups, and kept105 everybody nervous and alarmed. The regiment stood -this for some time, when an idea occurred to Si and Shorty. They went up -to the Colonel and explained: - -"Colonel, we've studied the ground out there purty carefully, and we -know that the knoll where that battery is is in close range o' that -crick where we went up this afternoon. If you'll let a few of us go out -there we kin stop them cannoneers mighty soon." - -"Sure of that?" said the Colonel alertly. - -"Dead sure." - -"Very well, then," said the Colonel promptly. "I've been thinking of the -same thing. I'll take the whole regiment out. Put yourselves at the -head, and lead the way." - -The regiment was only too eager for the movement. It marched rapidly -after Si and Shorty up the creek bed, and in a very few minutes found -itself on the flank of the obnoxious battery, which was still banging -away into the line which the 200th Ind. had occupied. It was scarcely -200 yards away, and the men's hearts burned with a fierce joy at the -prospect of vengeance. With whispered orders the Colonel lined up the -regiment carefully on the bank, and waited until the battery should fire -again, to make sure of the aim. Every man cocked his gun, took good aim, -and waited for the order. They could distinctly hear the orders of the -battery officers directing the shelling. Three cannon were fired at -once, and as their fierce lights flashed out the Colonel gave the order -to fire. A terrible simoon of death from the rifles of the 200th Ind. -struck down everything in and around the battery. - -"That dog's cured o' suckin' aigs," said Shorty, as the Colonel ordered -the regiment to about face and march back. - -The 200th Ind. heard no more from that battery that night. - - - - - -CHAPTER IX. VICTORY AT LAST SI REAPPEARS AS FROM THE GRAVE, WITH AN -APPETITE LIKE PRAIRIE FIRE. - -ON THEIR way back from "settling the battery," Si and Shorty each broke -off a big armful of cedar branches. These they spread down on the ground -when the regiment resumed its place in the line-of-battle, and lay down -on them to spend the rest of the night as comfortably as possible. The -fire with which they had roasted the pig, and from which they had drawn -much comfort during the day, had had to be extinguished when darkness -came on. But it had dried out and warmed the ground for a considerable -space around, and on this they made their bed. - -"We seem to play in fair luck right along, Shorty," said the hopeful Si, -as they curled up on the boughs. "Most of the boys 've got to lay down -in a foot of mud." - -"Don't get to crowin' too loud," grumbled Shorty. "If they find out what -a good thing we have, some Jigadier-Brindle'll snatch it away for -himself." But Si was fast asleep before Shorty finished speaking. - -Sometime before midnight the Orderly-Sergeant came around, and after -vigorous kicking and shaking, succeeded in waking them. - -"Get up," he said, "and draw some rations. The wagons've got in from -Nashville."108 - -"My gracious!" said Si, as soon as he was wide enough awake to -understand the Orderly-Sergeant's words, "is it possible that we're -going to have plenty of hardtack and pork and coffee again? Seems to me -a hundred years since we drew a full ration." - -He and Shorty jumped up and ran over to where the Quartermaster-Sergeant -and his assistants were dealing out a handful of crackers and a piece of -pork to each man as he came up. - -"Mebbe I oughtn't to say it," said Si, as he munched away, taking a bite -first off the crackers in his right and then off the meat in his left, -"but nothing that ever mother baked tasted quite as good as this." - -"This does seem to be a specially good lot," assented Shorty. "Probably -a wagon load that they intended for the officers and give us by mistake. -Better eat it all up before they find it out." - -The morning of Jan. 2, 1863, dawned bleak and chill, but this at least -brought the great comfort that the dreary rain was at last over. The -sharp air was bracing, and put new life and hope into the hearts of the -Union soldiers. Many wagons had been gotten up during the night, -bringing food and ammunition for all. Soon after daylight cheerful fires -were blazing everywhere, and the morning air was laden with the -appetizing fragrance of boiling coffee and broiling meat. The sun began -to rise over Murfreesboro' and the rebel camps, giving promise of a -bright, invigorating day. - -"I hope this thing'll be brought to a focus to-day, and the question -settled as to who shall occupy this piece of real estate," said Shorty, -as he and Si109 finished a generous breakfast, filled their boxes and -pockets with cartridges, and began knocking the dried mud off their -clothes and rubbing the rust from their guns. "I want them gents in -brown clothes to clear out and leave. It frets me to see them hangin' -'round. They're bad neighbors." - -"I hope," said Si, carefully picking out the tube of his gun with a pin, -"we won't put in to-day as we did yesterday layin' 'round making faces -an' shakin' our fists at one another. Let's have the thing out at once." - -Evidently the rebels were of the same frame of mind. They saluted the -dawn with a noisy fusillade that ran along the miles of winding line. It -was spiteful, crashing and persistent, but as the Union lines lay beyond -good musket range and the rebels showed no disposition to advance across -the fields and come to close quarters, the noise was quite out of -proportion to the harm done. - -The two rebel batteries on the opposite side of the river opened up a -terrific fire upon one of our batteries, and the air seemed torn to -shreds by the storm of howling missiles. - -The 200th Ind. was too far away to have more than a spectacular interest -in this tempestuous episode. They stood around their gun-stacks and -watched and listened while the hours passed in ineffective noise, and -wondered when the crisis of action was going to arrive. - -"They seem to have lost their appetite for close acquaintance with the -200th Ind.," remarked Shorty. "They found that Jordan was a hard road to -travel whenever they came across the fields at us, and are110 tryin' to -scare us by makin' a racket. I think we kin stand it as long as their -powder kin. But I'm gittin' hungry agin. Let's have somethin' to eat." - -"Good gracious, it is noon," answered Si, looking up at the sun. "I -believe I do want some dinner." - -They had scarcely finished dinner-eating when the 200th Ind. was ordered -to move over toward Stone River. It halted on a little rise of ground on -the bank, which commanded an extensive view on both sides of the river. -There was a portentous flow in the great, dark-blue sea of men. The -billows, crested with shining steel, were rolling eastward toward the -river. - -"Something's goin' to happen; meetin's about to break up; school's goin' -to let out," said Shorty eagerly. "Isn't it a grand sight." - -"Gracious me!" said Si, devouring the spectacle with his eyes. "How I -wish that father and mother and sister could see all this. It's worth -going through a great deal to see this." - -It was by far the most imposing spectacle they had yet seen. The whole -Army of the Cumberland was crowded into the narrow space between the -Nashville Pike and Stone River. Its compact regiments, brigades, and -divisions showed none of the tearing and mangling they had endured, but -stood or moved in well-dressed ranks that seemed the embodiment of -mighty purpose and resistless force. - -Around its grand array, a half mile away, lay the somber, portentous -line of brown-clad men. Beyond them rose the steeples and roofs of the -sleepy old town of Murfreesboro', with crowds of men and women occupying -every point of vantage, to witness the renewal of the awful battle.111 - -It was now long past noon. The bright sun had long ago scattered the -chill mists of the morning, and radiated warmth and light over the dun -landscape. Even the somber cedars lost some of the funereal gloom they -wore when the skies were lowering. - -"There go two brigades across the river," said Si. "We're goin' to try -to turn their right." - -They saw a long line of men file down the river bank, cross, and go into -line on the high ground beyond. Their appearance seemed to stir the -brown mass lying on the hights a mile in front of them to action. The -rebels began swarming out of their works and moving forward into the -woods. - -Presently a thin line of men in butternut-colored clothes ran forward to -a fence in front, and began throwing it down. Behind them came three -long, brown lines, extending from near the river to the woods far away -to the left. Batteries galloped in the intervals to knolls, on which -they unlimbered and opened fire. - -It was an overpowering mass of men for the two little brigades to -resist. Si's heart almost stood still as he saw the inequality of the -contest. - -"Why don't they send us over there to help those men?" he anxiously -asked. "They can't stand up against that awful crowd." - -"Just wait," said Shorty hopefully. "Old Rosy knows what he's doin'. -He's got enough here for the business." - -The artillery all along the line burst out in torrents of shells, but -Si's eyes were glued on the two little brigades. He saw the white spurts -from the skirmishers' rifles, and men drop among the rebels,112 who yet -moved slowly forward, like some all-engulfing torrent. The skirmishers -ran back to the main line, and along its front sped a burst of smoke as -each regiment fired by volley. The foremost rebel line quivered a -little, but moved steadily on. - -Then a cloud of white smoke hid both Union and rebel lines, and from it -came the sound as of thousands of carpenters hammering away -industriously at nails. - -Presently Si was agonized to see a fringe of blue break back from the -bank of smoke, and run rapidly to the rear. They were followed by -regiments falling back slowly, in order, and turning at the word of -command to deliver volleys in the faces of their yell ing pursuers. - -Si looked at his Colonel, and saw him anxiously watching the brigade -commander for orders to rush across the river to the assistance of the -two brigades. - -Suddenly there was a whirl in front. A battery galloped up, the drivers -lashing the horses, the cannoneers sitting stolidly on the limbers with -their arms folded. It swept by to a knoll in front and to the right, -which commanded the other side of the river. Instantly the gunners -sprang to the ground, the cannon were tossed about as if they were play -things, and before Si could fairly wink he saw the guns lined up on the -bank, the drivers standing by the horses' heads, and the cannons -belching savagely into the flanks of the horde of rebels. - -Then another battery swept up alongside the first, and another, until 58 -guns crowned the high banks and thundered until the earth shook as with -the ague. A deluge of iron swept the fields where the mighty113 host of -rebels were advancing. Tops were torn out of trees and fell with a -crash, fence-rails and limbs of oak went madly flying through the air, -regiments and brigades disappeared before the awful blast. - -For a few minutes Si and Shorty stood appalled at the deafening crash -and the shocking destruction. Then they saw the rebels reel and fly -before the tornado of death.114 - -A great shout arose from thousands of excited men standing near. -Regiments and brigades started as with one impulse to rush across the -river and pursue the flying enemy. The 200th Ind. was one of these. No -one heard any orders from the officers. The men caught the contagion of -victory and rushed forward, sweeping with them the lately-defeated -brigades, hurrying over the wreckage of the cannon-fire, over the -thickly-strewn dead and wounded, and gathering in prisoners, flags and -cannon. - -They went on so, nearly to the breastworks behind which the rebels were -seeking shelter. - -Si and Shorty were among the foremost. A few hundred yards from the -rebel works Si fell to the ground without a groan. Shorty saw him, and -ran to him. The side of his head was covered with blood, and he was -motionless. - -Si Klegg Fell Without a Groan 113 - -"Stone dead—bullet plum through his head," said the agonized Shorty. But -there was no time for mourning the fallen. The pursuit was still hot, -and Shorty's duty was in front. He ran ahead until the Colonel halted -the regiment. Fresh rebels were lining up in the breastworks and -threatening a return charge which would be disastrous. The Colonel -hastily re-formed the regiment to meet this, and slowly withdrew it in -good order to resist any counter-attack. After marching a mile or more -the regiment halted and went into bivouac. The rejoicing men started -great fires and set about getting supper. But the saddened Shorty had no -heart for rejoicing over the victory, or for supper. He drew off from -the rest, sat down at the roots of an oak, wrapped the cape of his -overcoat about his face, and115 abandoned himself to his bitter grief. -Earth had no more joy for him. He wished he had been shot at the same -time his partner was. He could think of nothing but that poor boy lying -there dead and motionless on the cold ground. He felt that he could -never think of anything else, and the sooner he was shot the better it -would be. - -The other boys respected his grief At first they tried to tempt him to -eat something and drink some coffee, but Shorty would not listen to -them, and they drew away, that he might be alone. - -He sat thus for some hours. The loss of their sturdy Corporal saddened -the whole company, and as they sat around their fires after supper they -ex tolled his good traits, recounted his exploits, and easily made him -out the best soldier in the regiment. - -Presently the fifes and rums played tattoo, and the boys began -preparations for turning in. - -Shorty had become nearly frozen sitting there motionless, and he got up -and went to the fire to thaw out. He had just picked up a rail to lay it -on the fire in better shape, when he heard a weak voice in quiring: - -"Does anybody know where the 200th Ind. is?" - -Shorty dropped the rail as if he had been shot, and rushed in the -direction of the voice. In an instant he came back almost carrying Si -Klegg. - -There was a hubbub around the fire that kept everybody from paying the -least attention to "taps." - -"Yes, it's really me," said Si, responding as well as he was able to the -hearty handshakings. "And I ain't no ghost, neither. I've got an -appetite on me like a prairie fire, and if you fellers are really -glad116 to see me you'll hustle up here all the grub in the Commissary -Department. I can eat every mite of it. I was hit by a spent ball and -knocked senseless. But I ain't going to tell you any more till I get -something to eat." - -118 - - - - -CHAPTER X. THE VICTORIOUS ARMY SI AND SHORTY FINALLY SUCCEED IN GETTING -OUT OF THE WET. - -THE BOYS were so glad to see Si back again alive that they robbed -themselves of any choice morsel of food they might have saved for to- -morrow's delectation. - -"Here, Si," said one, "is a nice knuckle-bone o' ham, that I pulled back -there at the General's when his cook returned to the tent for something. -You ought t've heard the nigger cussing as I walked away, but he -couldn't recognize the back o' my head, nor see under my overcoat. Me -and my chum 've had supper off it, and we wuz saving the rest for -breakfast, but I'll brile it for you." - -"Some of them Kentucky fellers," said another, "found a sheep in the -briars and killed it. I traded 'em my silk handkerchief for a hunk o' -the meat. I'm going to cook a slice for you, Si." - -"Si, I'll bile some coffee for you," said a third. - -"I'll toast some crackers for you," added a fourth. - -Shorty roused. He felt so much gladder than any of them, that he was -jealous of their attentions. - -"See here, you fellers," said he, "this is my partner, an' I'm able to -take care of him. I'll bile all the coffee an' toast all the crackers he -kin eat; though I'm much obliged to you, Jim, for your ham, and to you, -Billy, for your mutton, though I'm afraid it'll taste too much of the -wool for a wounded man." - -"Don't mind about that," said Si; "I'm hungry enough to eat the wool on -the sheep's back, even. Hand over your mutton, Billy, and thankee for -it. My appetite's not delicate, I can tell you. Woolly mutton won't faze -it more'n bark would a buzz-saw." Si didn't over-state the case. He ate -everything119 that was cooked and offered him, until he declared that he -was so full he "could touch it with his finger." - -Shorty Thinks si Does Not Look Like a Ghost. 118 - -"I'm sure you're not a ghost, from the way you eat," said Shorty, who -was beginning to recover his propensity for sarcasm. "If ghosts et like -you there'd have to be a steam bakery an' a pork packery run in -connection with every graveyard." - -"And I'd never take no ghost to board," said Billy. - -"Come, Si," said Jimmy Barlow, filling his briarwood pipe with -kinnikinnick, lighting it from the fire, taking a few puffs to start it, -and handing it to Si, "tell us just what happened to you. We're dyin' to -hear." - -"Well," said Si, settling down with the pipe into a comfortable -position, "I don't know what happened. Last thing I knowed I wuz runnin' -ahead on Shorty's left, loadin' my gun, an' tryin' to keep up with the -Colonel's hoss. Next thing I knowed I wuz wakin' up at the foot of a -black-oak. Everything was quiet around me, except the yellin' of two or -three wounded men a little ways off. At first I thought a cannonball' d -knocked my whole head off. Then it occurred to me that if my head was -knocked off I couldn't hear nor see." - -"Nor think, even," injected Shorty. - -"No, nor think, even. For what'd you think with?" - -"I know some fellers that seem to think with their feet, and that blamed -awkwardly," mused Shorty. - -"I kept on wakin' up," continued Si. "At first I thought I had no head -at all, an' then it seemed to me I was all head, it hurt so awfully. I -couldn't move hand nor foot. Then I thought mebbe only half my head was -shot away, an' the rest was aching for all.120 - -"I tried shuttin' one eye an' then the other, an' found I'd at least -both eyes left. I moved my head a little, an' found that the back part -was still there, for a bump on the roots of the oak hurt it. - -"By-and-by the numbness began to go out of my head an' arm, but I was -afraid to put my hand up to my head, for I was afraid to find out how -much was gone. Nearly the whole of the left side must be gone, an' all -my schoolin' scattered over the ground. I lay there thinkin' it all over -how awful I'd look when you fellers came to find me and bury me, an' how -you wouldn't dare tell the folks at home about it. - -"Finally, I got plum desperate. I didn't seem to be dyin', but to be -gettin' better every minute. I determined to find out just however much -of my head was really gone. I put up my hand, timid-like, an' felt my -forehead. It was all there. I passed my hand back over my hair an' the -whole back of my head was there. I felt around carefully, an' there was -the whole side of my head, only a little wet where I'd got a spent ball. -Then I got mad an' I jumped up. Think of my makin' all that fuss over a -little peck that might have been made by a brick-bat. I started out to -hunt you fellers, an' here I am." - -"Yes, but you wouldn't 've bin here," philosophized Shorty, examining -the wound, "if the feller that fired that shot'd given his gun a little -hunch. If that bullet'd went a half-inch deeper, you'd be up among the -stars a bow-legged Wabash angel." - -"Well, we've licked the stuffin' out of 'em at last, haven't we?" asked -Si. - -"Well, I should say we had," replied Shorty with an impressive whistle. -"I thought the artillery would121 tear the foundations out of the whole -State of Tennessee, the way it let into them. There won't ba more -crashin' an' bangin' when the world breaks up. I'd a-bin willin' to -serve 100 years just to see that sight. Lord, what a chance the -cannoneers had. First time I ever wanted to be in the artillery. The way -they slung whole blacksmith shops over into them woods, an' smashed down -trees, and wiped out whole brigades at a clip, filled my soul with joy." - -"We must go over there in the mornin' an' take a look at the place," -said Si drowsily. "It will be good to remember alongside o' the way they -slapped it to us the first day." - -Si and Shorty woke up the next morning to find the chill rain pouring -down as if the country had been suffering from a year's drouth, and the -rain was going to make up for it in one forenoon. - -"Lord have mercy," said the disgusted Shorty, as he fell into line for -roll-call. "Another seepin', soppin', sloshin', spatterin' day. Only had -14 of 'em this week so far. Should think the geese 'd carry umbrellas, -an' the cows wear overshoes in this, land of eternal drizzle. If I ever -get home they'll have to run me through a brick-kiln to dry me out." - -In spite of the down-pour the army was forming up rapidly to resume the -advance upon Murfreesboro', and over the ground on the left, that had -proved so disastrous to the rebels the day before. - -While the 200th Ind. was getting ready to fall in, the sick-call -sounded, and the Orderly-Sergeant remarked to Si: - -"Fall into this squad, Corporal Klegg." - -"What for?" asked Si, looking askance at the squad.122 - -"To go to the Surgeon's tent," answered the Orderly-Sergeant. "This is -the sick squad." - -"That's what I thought," answered Si; "an' that's the reason I ain't -goin' to join it." - -"But your head's bigger'n a bushel, Si," remonstrated the Sergeant. -"Better let the doctor see it." - -"I don't want none of his bluemass or quinine," persisted Si. "That's -all he ever gives for anything. The swellin' 'll come out o' my head in -time, same as it does out o' other people's." - -"Corporal, I'll excuse you from duty to-day," said the Captain kindly. -"I really think you ought to go to the Surgeon." - -"If you don't mind, Captain," said Si, saluting, "I'll stay with the -boys. I want to see this thing to the end. My head won't hurt me half so -bad as if I was back gruntin' 'round in the hospital." - -"Probably you are right," said the Captain. "Come along, then." - -Willing and brave as the men were, the movements were tiresomely slow -and laggard. The week of marching and lying unsheltered in the rain, of -terrific fighting, and of awful anxiety had brought about mental and -physical exhaustion. The men were utterly worn out in body and mind. -This is usually the case in every great battle. Both sides struggle with -all their mental and physical powers, until both are worn out. The one -that can make just a little more effort than the other wins the victory. -This was emphatically so in the battle of Stone River. The rebels had -exhausted themselves, even, more in their assaults than the Union men -had in repelling them. - -When, therefore, the long line of blue labored123 slowly through the mud -and the drenching rain up the gentle slopes on the farther side of Stone -River, the rebels sullenly gave ground before them. At last a point was -reached which commanded a view of Murfreesboro' and the rebel position. -The rebels were seen to be in retreat, and the exhausted Army of the -Cumberland was mighty glad to have them go. - -As soon as it was certain that the enemy was really abandoning the -bitterly-contested field, an inexpressible weariness overwhelmed -everybody. The 200th Ind. could scarcely drag one foot after another as -it moved back to find a suitable camping-ground. - -Si and Shorty crawled into a cedar thicket, broke down some brush for a -bed, laid a pole in two crotches, leaned some brush against it to make a -par tial shelter, built a fire, and sat down. - -"I declare, I never knew what being tuckered out was before," said Si. -"And it's come to me all of a sudden. This morning I felt as if I could -do great things, but the minute I found that them rebels was really -going, my legs begun to sink under me." - -"Same way with me," accorded Shorty. "Don't believe I've got strength -enough left to pull a settin' hen offen her nest. But we can't be -drowned out this way. We must fix up some better shelter." - -"The Colonel says there's a wagon-load o' rations on the way here," said -Si, sinking wearily down on the ground by the fire, and putting out his -hands over the feeble blaze. "Let's wait till we git something to eat. -Mebbe we'll feel more like work after we've eaten something." - -"Si Klegg," said Shorty sternly, but settling down himself on the other -side of the fire, "I never knowed124 you to flop down before. You've -always bin, if any thing, forwarder than me. I was in hopes now that -you'd take me by the back o' the neck and try to shake some o' this -laziness out o' me." - -"Wait till the rations come," repeated Si listlessly. "Mebbe we'll fell -livelier then. The shelter we've fixed up'll keep out the coarsest o' -the rain, anyway. Most o' the boys ain't got none." - -When the rations arrived, Si and Shorty had energy enough to draw, cook -and devour an immense supper. Then they felt more tired than ever. -Shorty had managed to tear off a big piece of the wagon cover while he -was showing much zeal in getting the rations distributed quickly. He got -the company's share in this, and helped carry it to the company, but -never for a minute relaxed his hold on the coveted canvas. Then he took -it back to his fire. Si and he spent what energy they had left in making -a tolerable tent of it, by stretching it over their shelter. They tied -it down carefully, to keep anybody else from stealing it off them, and -Shorty took the additional precaution of fastening a strip of it around -his neck. Then they crawled in, and before night come on they were -sleeping apparently as soundly as the Seven of Ephesus. - -126 - - - - -CHAPTER XI. WINTER QUARTERS THEY BUILT THEM A HOUSE AND GOT IN OUT OF -THE RAIN. - -THE NEXT day Sunday after the battle dawned as clear, bright and -sparkling as only a Winter's day can dawn in Tennessee, after a -fortnight of doleful deluges. Tennessee Winter weather is like the -famous little girl with the curl right down in the middle of her -forehead, who, - -"When she was good, she was very, very good, And when she was bad, she -was horrid." - -After weeks of heart-saddening down-pour that threatened to drench life -and hope out of every breathing thing, it will suddenly beam out in a -day so crisp and bright that all Nature will wear a gladsome smile and -life become jocund. - -When the reveille and the Orderly-Sergeant's brogans aroused Si and -Shorty the latter's first thought was for the strip of canvas which he -had secured with so much trouble from the wagon-cover, and intended to -cherish for future emergencies. He felt his neck and found the strip -that he had tied there, but that was all that there was of it. A sharp -knife had cut away the rest so deftly that he had not felt its loss. - -Shorty's boiler got very hot at once, and he began blowing off steam. -Somehow he had taken an especial fancy to that piece of canvas, and his -wrath was hot against the man who had stolen it. - -Shorty Retaliates. 126 - -"Condemn that onery thief," he yelled. "He ought to be drummed out o' -camp, with his head shaved. A man that'll steal ought to be hunted down -and127 kicked out o' the army. He's not fit to associate with decent -men." - -"Why, Shorty," said Si, amused at his partner's heat, "you stole that -yourself." - -"I didn't nothin' o' the kind," snorted Shorty, "and don't want you -sayin' so, Mr. Klegg, if you don't want to git into trouble. I took it -from a teamster. You ought to know it's never stealin' to take anything -from a teamster. I'll bet it was some of that Toledo regiment that stole -it. Them Maumee River Muskrats are the durndest thieves in the brigade. -They'd steal the salt out o' your hardtack if you didn't watch 'em not -because they wanted the salt, but just because they can't help stealin'. -They ought to be fired out o' the brigade. I'm going over to their camp -to look for it, and if I find it I'll wipe the ground up with the feller -that took it. 'Taint so much the value of the thing as the principle. I -hate a thief above all things." - -Si tried to calm Shorty and dissuade him from going, but his partner was -determined, and Si let him go, but kept an eye and ear open for -developments. - -In a few minutes Shorty returned, with jubilation in his face, the -canvas in one hand and a nice frying-pan and a canteen of molasses in -the other. - -"Just as I told you," he said triumphantly. "It was some o' them Maumee -River Muskrats. I found them asleep in a bunch o' cedars, with our nice -tent stretched over their thievin' carcasses. They'd been out on guard -or scoutin', and come in after we'd gone to sleep. They were still -snorin' away when I yanked the tent off, an' picked up their fryin'-pan -an' canteen o' molasses to remember 'em by."128 - -"I thought you hated a thief," Si started to say; but real comrades soon -learn, like husband and wife, that it is not necessary to say everything -that rises to their lips. Besides, the frying-pan was a beauty, and just -what they wanted. - -It became generally understood during the day that the Army of the -Cumberland would remain around Murfreesboro' indefinitely probably until -Spring to rest, refit and prepare for another campaign. Instructions -were given to regimental commanders to select good camping ground and -have their men erect comfortable Winter quarters. - -The 200th Ind. moved into an oak grove, on a gentle slope toward the -south, and set about making itself thoroughly at home. - -Si and Shorty were prompt to improve the opportunity to house themselves -comfortably. - -Si had now been long enough in the army to regard everything that was -not held down by a man with a gun and bayonet as legitimate capture. He -passed where one of the Pioneer Corps had laid down his ax for a minute -to help on some other work. That minute was spent by Si in walking away -with the ax hidden under his long overcoat. Those long overcoats, like -charity, covered a multitude of sins. - -The ax was not sharp no army ax ever was, but Si's and Shorty's muscles -were vigorous enough to make up for its dullness. In a little while they -had cut down and trimmed enough oak saplings to make a pen about the -size of the corn-crib at Si's home. While one would whack away with the -ax the other would carry the poles and build up the pen. By129 evening -they had got this higher than their heads, and had to stop work from -sheer exhaustion. - -"I'll declare," said Si, as they sat down to eat supper and survey their -work, "if father'd ever made me do half as much work in one day as I -have done to-day I should have died with tiredness and then run away -from home. It does seem to me that every day we try a new way o' killing -ourselves." - -"Well," said Shorty, arresting a liberal chunk of fried pork on the way -to his capacious grinders to cast an admiring glance on the structure, -"it's worth it all. It'll just be the finest shebang in Tennessee when -we git it finished. I'm only afraid we'll make it so fine that Gen. -Rosecrans or the Governor of Tennessee 'll come down and take it away -for him self. That'd just be our luck." - -"Great Scott!" said Si, looking at it with a groan; "how much work there -is to do yet. What are we goin' to do for a roof? Then, we must cut out -a place for a door. We'll have to chink between all the logs with mud -and chunks; and we ought to have a fireplace." - -"I've bin thinkin' of all them things, and I've thunk 'em out," said -Shorty cheerfully. "I've bin thinkin' while you've bin workin'. Do you -know, I believe I was born for an architect, an' I'll go into the -architect business after the war! I've got a head plumb full of the -natural stuff for the business. It growed right there. All I need is -some more know-how an' makin' plans on paper." - -"O, you've got a great big head, Shorty," said Si, admiringly, "and -whatever you start to do you do splendid. Nobody knows that better'n me. -But what's your idee about the roof?"130 - -"Why, do you see that there freight-car over there by the bridge" -(pointing to where a car was off the track, near Stone River), "I've bin -watchin' that ever since we begun buildin', for fear somebody else'd -drop on to it. The roof of that car is tin. We'll jest slip down there -with an ax after dark, an' cut off enough to make a splendid roof. I -always wanted a tin-roofed house. Old Jack Wilson, who lives near us, -had a tin roof on his barn, an' it made his daughters so proud they -wouldn't go home with me from meetin'. You kin write home that we have a -new house with a tin roof, an' it'll help your sisters to marry better." - -"Shorty, that head o' your'n gits bigger every time I look at it." - -Si and Shorty had the extreme quality of being able to forget fatigue -when there was something to be accomplished. As darkness settled down -they picked up the ax and proceeded across the fields to the freight- -car. - -"There's someone in there," said Si, as they came close to it. They -reconnoitered it carefully. Five or six men, without arms, were -comfortably ensconed inside and playing cards by the light of a fire of -pitch-pine, which they had built upon some dirt placed in the middle of -the car. - -"They're blamed skulkers," said Shorty, after a minute's survey of the -interior. "Don't you see they hain't got their guns with 'em? We won't -mind 'em." - -They climbed to the top of the car, measured off about half of it, and -began cutting through the tin with the ax. The noise alarmed the men -inside. They jumped out on the ground, and called up:131 - -"Here, what're you fellers doin' up there? This is our car. Let it -alone." - -"Go to the devil," said Shorty, making another slash at the roof with -the ax. - -"This is our car, I tell you," reiterated the men. "You let it alone, or -we'll make you." Some of the men looked around for something to throw at -them. - -Si walked to the end of the car, tore off the brake-wheel, and came -back. - -"You fellers down there shut up and go back in side to your cards, if -you know what's good for you," he said. "You're nothing but a lot of -durned skulkers. We are here under orders. We don't want nothin' but a -piece o' the tin roof. You kin have the rest. If any of you attempts to -throw anything I'll mash him into the ground with this wheel. Do you -hear me? Go back inside, or we'll arrest the whole lot of you and take -you back to your regiments." - -Si's authoritative tone, and the red stripes on his arm, were too much -for the guilty consciences of the skulkers, and they went back inside -the car. The tearing off the roof proceeded without further -interruption, but with considerable mangling of their hands by the edges -of the tin. - -After they had gotten it off, they proceeded to roll it up and started -back for their "house." It was a fearful load, and one that they would -not have attempted to carry in ordinary times. But their blood was up; -they were determined to outshine everybody else with their tin roof, and -they toiled on over the mud and rough ground, although every132 little -while one of them would make a misstep and both would fall, and the -heavy weight would seem to mash them into the ground. - -"I don't wonder old Jake Wilson was proud of his tin roof," gasped Si, -as he pulled himself out of a mudhole and rolled the tin off him and -Shorty. "If I'd a tin roof on my barn durned if my daughter should walk -home with a man that didn't own a whole section of bottom land and drove -o' mules to boot." - -It was fully midnight before they reached their pen and laid their -burden down. They were too tired to do anything more than lay their -blankets down on a pile of cedar boughs and go to sleep. - -The next morning they unrolled their booty and gloated over it. It would -make a perfect roof, and they felt it repaid all their toils. Upon -measurement they found it much larger each way than their log pen. - -"Just right," said Shorty gleefully. "It'll stick out two feet all -around. It's the aristocratic, fashion able thing now-a-days to have -wide cornishes. Remember them swell houses we wuz lookin' at in -Louisville? We're right in style with them." - -The rest of Co. Q gathered around to inspect it and envy them. - -"I suppose you left some," said Jack Wilkinson. "I'll go down there and -get the rest." - -"Much you won't," said Si, looking toward the car; "there ain't no -rest." - -They all looked that way. Early as it was the car had totally -disappeared, down to the wheels, which some men were rolling away.133 - -"That must be some o' them Maumee River Muskrats," said Shorty, looking -at the latter. "They'll steal anything they kin git away with, just for -the sake of stealin'. What on earth kin they do with them wheels?" - -"They may knock 'em off the axles an' make hearths for their fireplaces, -and use the axles for posts," suggested Si. - -"Here, you fellers," said Shorty, "give us a lift. Let's have a house- -raisin'. Help us put the roof on." - -They fell to with a will, even the Captain assisting, and, after a good -deal of trouble and more cut hands, succeeded in getting the piece of -tin on top of the pen and bent down across the ridge-pole. Si and Shorty -proceeded to secure it in place by putting other poles across it and -fastening them down with ropes and strips of bark to the lower logs. - -"Your broad cornice is aristocratic, as you say," said the Captain, "but -I'm afraid it'll catch the wind, and tip your house over in some big -storm." - -The House Beautiful. 133 - -"That's so," admitted Shorty; "but a feller that puts on airs always has -to take some chances. I don't want people to think that we are mean and -stingy about a little tin, so I guess we'll keep her just as she is." - -The next day they borrowed a saw from the Pioneers, cut out a hole for -the door, and another for the fireplace. They made a frame for the door -out of pieces of cracker-boxes, and hung up their bit of canvas for a -door. They filled up the spaces be tween the logs with pieces of wood, -and then daubed clay on until they had the walls tight. They gathered up -stones and built a commodious fireplace, daubing it all over with clay, -until it was wind and water tight. - -"What are we goin' to do for a chimney, Si?" said135 Shorty, as their -fireplace became about breast-high. "Build one o' sticks, like these -rebels around here? That'll be an awful lot o' work." - -Solid Comfort. 135 - -"I've had an idee," said Si. "I ain't goin' to let136 you do all the -thinkin', even if you are a born architect. When I was helpin' draw -rations yesterday, I looked at the pork barrels, and got an idee that -one of them'd make a good chimney. I spoke to Bill Suggs, the -Commissary-Sergeant, about it, and he agreed to save me a barrel when it -was empty, which it must be about now. I'll go down and see him about -it." - -Si presently came back rolling the empty barrel. They knocked the bottom -out, carefully plastered it over inside with clay, and set it up on -their fireplace, and made the joints with more clay. It made a splendid -chimney. They washed the clay off their hands, built a cheerful fire -inside, cooked a bountiful supper, and ate it in the light and comfort -of their own fireside. It was now Saturday night. They had had a week of -severer toil than they had ever dreamed of performing at home, but its -reward was ample. - -"Ah," said Shorty, as he sat on a chunk of wood, pipe in mouth, and -absorbed the warmth, "this is something like home and home comforts. -It's more like white livin' than I've had since I've bin in the army. -Let's act like men and Christians tomorrow, by not doin' a lick o' work -o' any kind. Let's lay abed late, and then wash up all over, and go to -hear the Chaplain preach." - -"Agreed," said Si, as he spread out their blankets for the night. - -It had been threatening weather all day, and now the rain came down with -a rush. - -"Ain't that music, now," said Shorty, listening to the patter on the -roof. "Nothin' sounds so sweet as137 rain upon a tin roof. Let it rain -cats and dogs, if it wants to. The harder the better. Si, there's -nothin' so healthy to sleep under as a tin roof. I'll never have -anything but a tin roof on my house when I git home. And we've got the -only tin roof in the regiment. Think o' that." But Si was too sleepy to -think. - - - - - -CHAPTER XII. ADDING TO THEIR COMFORT MAKING ADDITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS -TO THEIR "HOME." - -SI AND Shorty kept Sunday as planned. They really did not know how tired -they were until they formed the resolution to give the day to absolute -restfulness. Then every joint and muscle ached from the arduous toil of -the past week, added to the strains and hardships of a week of battle. - -"Used to seem to me," said Shorty, "that when Sunday come after the -first week's plowin' in Spring that I had a bile in every limb. Now I -appear to have one in every j'int, and in my brains as well. I didn't -ever suppose that I could be so tired, and yit be able to set up and -take nourishment." - -"Same here," said Si. "Feel as if I ought to be wrapped in cotton -battin' an' sweet oil, an' laid away for awhile." - -The only thing about them which did not show deadly lassitude was their -appetites. Fortunately, the Commissary took a liberal view of the -Regulations as to rations, issuing enough to make up for those they had -not drawn during the times when his department was not in working order. -They ate all these and wanted more. - -'am I a Soldier of the Cross?' 139 - -The Quartermaster had also succeeded in re-establishing relations. They -drew from him new139 under-clothing to replace that which they had lost, -took a thorough wash the first good one they had had since Christmas -morning, beat and brushed much of the accumulated mud representing every -variety of140 soil between Murfreesboro' and Nashville out of their -clothes, cleaned and greased their heavy brogans, and went with their -comrades to divine service, feeling that they had made every provision -required for a proper observance of the holy day. - -Si had a really fine baritone voice, and led the meeting in singing - -"Am I a soldier of the cross?" - -After church Shorty said: - -"Si, when you were singing so loud about being a soldier of the cross -and a follower of the Lamb I wanted to git right up and tell you that -you'd have to git a transfer from the 200th Ind. We've lots of cross -soldiers, especially on mud marches, but we don't want any soldiers in -this regiment except for the Constitution of the United States and the -laws made in pursuance thereof, against all enemies and opposers -whatsoever, either foreign or domestic. An' as for follerin' the lamb, -you know as well as I do the orders agin foragin'." - -"O, dry up, Shorty. I don't believe going to church done you a mite o' -good. I tell you it done me lots." - -"There you're mistaken," answered Shorty. "It just done me lots o' good. -Kind o' restored communications with home and respectable folks once -more, an' made me think I still belonged to what the jographies call -civilized and partially-civilized people, something that we seem in -great danger o' forgettin', the way we've bin goin' on." - -The good Chaplain's fervent appeals to devote the141 day to earnest -consideration of their soul's welfare could not keep them from spending -the hours in planning and discussing further improvements on the house. - -"We must have a real door," said Shorty, looking critically at the strip -of canvas that did duty for that important adjunct. "Muslin looks -shiftless, an', besides, I think it's unhealthy. Lets in drafts, an' -will give us colds." - -"Too bad about our ketchin' cold," said Si sardonically. "Most o' the -time lately we've bin sleepin' out with nothin' around us but the State -line of Tennessee." - -"Don't be too flip, young man," said Shorty severely. "You have not had -a home with its blessin's long enough to appreciate it. I say we must -have a real door an' a winder that'll let in light, an' a bedstead, an' -a floor o' planks." - -"We ought to have 'em, certainly," agreed Si. "But must have 'em is -quite another thing. How are we goin' to git 'em? There's 40,000 men -around here, snatchin' at every piece o' plank as big as your hand." - -"Well," retorted Shorty, "we're goin' to have a real door, a winder, and -a plank floor, all the same. They're to be had somewhere in this -country, an' they'll have to run mighty hard to git away from us." - -The next morning the Orderly-Sergeant said: - -"Corp'l Klegg, you'll take five men, go down to the railroad, and report -to the Commissary to load the wagon with rations." - -Si took Shorty and four others and started off on142 this errand. He was -soon so busy rolling heavy pork barrels from the car into the wagon that -he failed to notice that Shorty was not with him. Finally they got the -wagon loaded and started, with them walking alongside, puffing and -sweating from their vigorous labor. - -They were not 100 yards away from the train, when the Conductor came -storming up: - -"See here, Lieutenant," he said to the Commissary, "some o' them men o' -yours sneaked around and stole the hind door off my caboose while you -was loading up." - -"I don't believe a word of it," said the Commissary, firing up at once. -"Mine ain't that kind of men. I'd have you know they don't steal. What -reason have you for saying so?" - -"The door was on the car when I came out to meet you, and now it's gone, -and there's been no body near the caboose but your men." - -"I know my men were working hard all the time right under my eyes," said -the Lieutenant, growing angrier every minute. "They're not the men to -steal anything, and if they were they didn't have any chance. They were -too busy. You can satisfy yourself that they didn't. You see none of -them have the door with them, and you can search the wagon. Get right in -there and look for it." - -The Conductor climbed into the wagon and looked carefully through. - -"No, it's not there," he said ruefully. - -Then the Commissary's wrath flamed out. "There, confound you, you are at -it again, you infernal civilian, slandering and abusing men who are -fighting143 for their country. Charging them with stealing your old -caboose door. Think of your disgraceful impudence, villifying men who -are shedding their blood for their country by such shameless charges.144 - -Shorty Confiscates the Caboose Door. 143 - -"What'd they want with your old car door? Get away from here, before I -lose my temper and do you damage." - -The Conductor walked away muttering: - -"Blasted thieving whelps o' soldiers, what'll they steal next? Lost all -my train tools at Lavergne, swiped the bedding at Smyrna, got away with -our clothes and dishes at Antioch, stole stove and lanterns at Overall's -Crick, and now they've begun on the cars. I'll be lucky to have enough -wheels left on the engine to run her back to Nashville." - -The Commissary continued to fume about the disgraceful charges brought -against his men until they reached camp. The wagon was unloaded and the -squad dismissed. - -As Si came up to the "house" he saw Shorty busily engaged in hanging the -caboose door by means of hinges which he had improvised from some boot -tops. - -"Why, Shorty," gasped Si, "how did you git away with it?" - -"Easy enough," answered his partner. "I saw you fellers gittin' very -busy over them pork barrels, an' all the train hands helpin' you. I -meandered back to the caboose, gently lifted the back door offen its -hinges, slipped down into the weeds in the ditch, an' kept under cover -o' them till I was out o' sight. Say, isn't it just a bully door?" - -That afternoon Si and Shorty walked over to where a detail of men were -at work building a bridge across Stone River, under the direction of a -Lieutenant of Pioneers. They had an idea that an opportunity might occur -there to pick up something that would add to their home comforts. The -Lieutenant was bustling about, hurrying the completion of the work -before night. As the detail was made up of squads from various -regiments, he was not acquainted with the men, and had much difficulty -assigning them to the work that would suit them best. He came up to Si, -who still wore the artillery Sergeant's overcoat he had picked up during -the battle, and said sharply: - -"Here, Sergeant, don't stand around doing nothing. Set the men a good -example by pitching in lively. There's plenty to do for everybody. If -you can't find anything else, help dig down that bank, and roll those -big stones into the fill. Hold on; I've thought of something else. I -want a reliable man to send over for some lumber. Put one of your men on -that wagon there, and go with him, and take this letter to Capt. -Billings, over at the saw-mill. It's a requisition for a load of lumber. -Avoid the camps as much as possible on your way back, or they'll steal -every inch of it away from you." - -"Very good, sir," said Si, saluting. "Shorty, jump on the wagon there, -and gather up the lines." - -Shorty very obediently took his place on the seat of the two-horse wagon -employed by the Pioneers for their jobs. - -"Hurry up," enjoined the Lieutenant; "we need those boards at once." - -"Very good, sir," said Si, saluting. - -"This is what I call a puddin'," said Shorty, oracularly, as they drove -away. "The Lord always kin be trusted to help the deservin', if the -deservin' only keep their eyes peeled for His p'inters. This146 comes -from not workin' yesterday and goin' to church." - -They drove down to the sawmill, delivered their requisition, and had -their wagon loaded with newly-sawn plank. The Captain had the planks -carefully counted, the number and feet entered upon the record, and set -forth upon the return which he gave to Si to be delivered to the -Lieutenant of Pioneers. - -"Too dod-gasted much bookkeepin' in this army," remarked Si, rather -disconsolately, and he put the paper in his blouse pocket, and they -drove away. "Wastes entirely too much valuable time. What'd he count -them boards for? Looked like he suspicioned us. How are we going to git -away with any o' them?" - -"I wouldn't have that man's suspicious mind for anything," answered -Shorty. "He don't trust no body. All the same, we're goin' to have -enough boards for our floor." - -"How are we goin' to manage it?" asked Si. - -"Lots o' ways. There's no need o' your carryin' that paper back to the -Lootenant. I might pick up several hundred feet and sneak away without -your knowin' it. Say," as a bright idea struck him, "what's the use o' -goin' back to the Lootenant at all? Neither of us belongs to his detail. -He don't know us from a side o' sole-leather. What's the matter with -drivin' the wagon right up to camp, and swipin' the whole business, -horses, wagon and all?" - -"I hain't been in the army as long as you have, Shorty," said Si -doubtfully. "I've made some progress in petty larceny, as you know, but -I ain't yit quite up to stealin' a span o' horses and a wagon.147 Mebbe -I'll come to it in time, but I ain't quite ready for it now." - -"That comes from goin' to church yesterday, and hearin' the Chaplain -read the Ten Commandments," said Shorty wrathfully. "I don't believe -they ought to allow the Chaplains to read them things. They ain't suited -to army life, and there ought to be a general order that they're -prejudicial to good order and military discipline. Where'd the army be -if they obeyed that one about not covetin' a horse or other movable -property? I tell you what we'll do, since you're so milky on the thing: -We'll drive up in front of our house, unload enough boards for our -floor, you git out your gun and bayonet and stand guard over 'em, and -I'll drive the wagon down near the bridge, and jump off and leave it." - -"All right," said Si; "that'll do splendidly, if you think you kin dodge -the Lootenant." - -"O, he be darned," said Shorty scornfully. "I could git away from him if -I wasn't 10 years old." - -They carried out the plan. They drove up in front of their residence, -and threw off a liberal quantity of the boards. The other boys raised a -yell, and made a break for them. But Si ran inside, got his gun, and -established himself on guard. - -"Don't you budge an inch from there till I git back," shouted Shorty, as -he drove away. "Don't let one of Co. Q lay a finger on them. They're the -durndest thieves outside the Jeffersonville Penitentiary. You can't -trust one o' them farther than you could sling a bull by the tail. I'll -be back soon." - -Shorty drove gaily down until he got close to the bridge. The Lieutenant -had been impatiently148 expecting him, and as soon as the wagon came up -it was surrounded by a crowd of men to unload it. The Lieutenant looked -over the load. - -Si Defended the Plunder. 148 - -"I wonder if he sent enough. Let me see your return," he said, looking -up at the seat, where he expected to find the Sergeant he had put in -charge. But the seat was empty. Shorty had jumped down, prudently -mingled with the crowd, avoided the Lieutenant's eye with much more than -his usual diffidence, and was modestly making his way back to camp -behind a thicket of hazel bushes. When he got to the house he was -delighted to find Si still master of the situation, with all the boards -present and accounted for. They quickly transferred them to the -interior, and found that they had enough for a nice floor, besides a -couple of extra ones, to cut up into a table and stools. - -"You done good work in keepin' the other boys offen 'em, Si," said he. -"I was afraid you wouldn't. The only thing I've got agin Co. Q is that -the boys will steal. Otherwise they're the nicest kind o' boys." - -A couple of days later they got a pass to go down to Murfreesboro' and -look the sleepy old town over. They were particularly interested in the -quaint old courthouse, which had once been the capitol of Tennessee. -They happened into one of the offices, which was entirely deserted. On -the wall hung a steel engraving of Jeff Davis in a large oak frame. - -"That blamed old rebel picture oughtn't to be hangin' there, Si," -observed Shorty. - -"Indeed it oughtn't. Jeff ought to be hung to a sour-apple tree, and -that glass'd make a nice winder for our house." - -"Indeed it would," Shorty started to answer, but time was too precious -to waste in speech. In an instant he had shoved an old desk up to the -wall, mounted it, and handed the picture down to Si. They wrapped it up -in their overcoats, and started back for camp. They had seen enough of -Murfreesboro' for that day. - - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. "HOOSIER'S REST" SI AND SHORTY CHRISTEN THEIR PLACE AND -GIVE A HOUSE-WARMING. - -WITH a tin roof, a real door, a glazed window and a plank floor, Si and -Shorty's house was by far the most aristocratic in the cantonment of the -200th Ind., if not the entire Winter quarters of the Army of the -Cumberland. A marble mansion, with all the modern improvements, could -not more proudly overshadow all its neighbors than it did. - -Even the Colonel's was no comparison to it. A tent-fly had been made to -do duty for a roof at the Colonel's. It could not be stretched evenly -and tight. It would persistently sag down in spots, and each of these -spots became a reservoir from which would descend an icy stream. A -blanket had to serve as a door, and the best substitute for window glass -were Commissary blanks greased with fat from headquarters' frying-pan. -The floor, instead of being of clean, new plank, as Si's and Shorty's, -was made of the warped and weather-beaten boards of a stable, which had -been torn down by a fatigue detail. - -Si and Shorty took as much pride and pleasure in their architecture as -any nabob over his million-dollar villa. They were constantly on the -alert for anything that would add to the comfort and luxury151 of their -home. In their wanderings they chanced to come across an old-fashioned -bedstead in an out house. It was of the kind in which the rails screw -together, and the bed is held up by a strong cord crossing and -recrossing from one rail to another. This looked like real luxury, and -they at once appropriated it without any consultation with the owner, -whoever he may have been. - -"It'd be a waste o' time, anyhow," remarked Shorty. "He's a rebel, and -probably over there in Bragg's army." - -They made a tick out of the piece of wagon-cover, filled it with beech -leaves, and had a bed which surpassed their most extravagant ideas of -comfort in the army. - -"Shorty," said Si, as they snugged themselves in the first night, "this -seems almost too much. Do you ever remember settin' the whole night on a -rail, with nothin' over us but clouds leakin' ice-water?" - -"Shut up," said Shorty, giving him a kick under the blankets. "Do you -want me to have a night mare?" - -They got a number of flat stones, and laid down a little pavement in -front of their door, and drove an old bayonet into the logs to serve as -a scraper. They rigorously insisted on every visitor using this before -entering. - -"For common Wabash-bottom fly-up-the-cricks and private soljers, you're -puttin' on entirely too many frills," said Sol Murphy, the Wagonmaster, -angrily, as it was firmly insisted upon that he stay outside until he -carefully cleaned his shoes on the bayonet. "A man that's afraid o' mud -hain't no152 business in the army. He orter stay at home an' wear -Congress gaiters an' pantalets. You're puttin' on too many scollops, I -tell you. You knowed all 'bout mud in the Wabash bottoms. You had 'nuff -of it there, the Lord knows." - -"Yes, we had," replied Shorty; "but we was too well raised to track it -into anybody's parlor." - -"Parlor," echoed Sol, with a horse-laugh. "Lord, how fine we are, just -becaze one o' us happens to be a measly little Corporal. In some armies -the Wagonmasters have Corporals to wait on 'em an' black their boots. -Now, I'll tell yo' what I've come for. I've lost my scoop-shovel, an' -I've bin told that you fellers stole it, an' are usin' it to bake hoe- -cakes on. I've come up here to see if you've got it, an' I'm goin' right -in there to see for myself, mud or no mud." - -"We hain't got your blamed old scoop-shovel; you can't git it; you ain't -goin' in there until you clean your feet, an' not then onless we -conclude to allow you," Shorty replied. - -"I'm goin' in there, or break some Wabash loon's neck," said the -Wagonmaster wrathfully. - -"I always did like to get a chance to lick a mule-whacker," said Si, -pulling off his overcoat. "And the bigger and the more consequential he -is, the better. I've never licked a Wagonmaster yit, an' I'm just achin' -for a chance." - -The Wagonmaster was the bully of the regiment, as Wagonmasters generally -are. When Si came into the regiment, a green cub, just getting his -growth, and afraid of everybody who assumed a little authority and had -more knowledge of the world than he, the Wagonmaster had been very153 -overbearing, and at times abusive. That is the way of Wagonmasters and -their ilk. The remembrance of this rankled in Si's mind. - -On the other hand, the Wagonmaster failed to comprehend the change that -a few months of such service as the 200th Ind.'s wrought in verdant, -bashful boys like Si. He thought he could cow him as easily as he did -when Si had timidly ventured to ask His Greatness a modest question or -two as they were crossing the Ohio River. Wagonmasters were always -making just that kind of mistakes. - -The other boys ran up to see the fun. The Wagonmaster made a rush for Si -with doubled fists, but Si quickly stepped to one side, and gave the -hulking fellow a tap on the butt of his ear that laid him over in the -mud. The other boys yelled with delight. Next to a Sutler, or a -conceited, fresh young Aid, the soldiers always delighted to see a -Wagonmaster get into trouble. - -Si Floors the Wagonmaster. 154 - -The Wagonmaster sprang up, ready for another round; but the boys raised -the cry that the Officer of the Day was coming, and both Si and the -Wagonmaster remembered that they had business in other parts of the -camp. - -The next day Shorty said: "It's all right, Si; we could've kept that -scoop-shovel as long as we wanted to, but I thought that for many -reasons it'd better be got out of the regiment, so I've traded it to -them Maumee Muskrats for a Dutch oven they'd borrowed from their Major." - -"Bully," answered Si. "I'd much rather have the Dutch oven, anyway." - -Si produced a piece of board, which had been154 painted white, and -evidently done duty as part of the door of a house in Murfreesboro', -looked at it critically, and then selected a piece of charcoal from the -fire, and sat down with an air of studious purpose. "What are you up to -now, Si?" asked Shorty curiously. - -"Why," explained Si, "I've noticed, whenever we've bin in any big place, -that all the fine houses have signs or numbers, or something else onto -'em, to name 'em. I've bin thinkin' o' something for155 our house. How -does 'Hoosier's Rest' strike you for a name?" - -"Splendid," said Shorty. "Couldn't be better." - -"And," continued Si, "I've got this board to make a sign to nail up over -the door. Do you know how to spell Hoosier, Shorty?" - -"Blest if I do," answered Shorty. "It wasn't in our book. At least, we -never got to it, if it was. You see our spellin'-school broke up just as -we got to 'incompatible.' The teacher got too fond o' Nancy Billings, -that I was castin' sheep's eyes at myself. He got to givin' her easy -words, to keep her at the head o' the class, and pickin' hard ones for -me, to send me to the foot, where I'd be fur away from her. I wouldn't -stand it always, so me an' him had it out one night before all the -scholars; I got away with him, and he left the country, and busted up -the school." - -"Hoosier," repeated Si to himself. "I never saw it spelled. But there -must be some way to spell it. Let me see: 'W-h-o spells who.'" - -"That's so," assented Shorty. - -"I-s spells 'is,'" continued Si. "Who-is that's right so far. H-e-r-e -spells 'here.' 'Who-is-here?' That seems almost right, don't it, -Shorty?" - -"It certainly does," replied Shorty, scratching his head to accelerate -his mental action. "Or it might be, Si, w-h-o, who; i-s, is; and y-e-r, -yer. You know some ignorant folks say yer for you. And they say the name -came from the people who first settled in Injianny sayin' 'Who's yer?' -to any new comer." - -"I believe you're right, Shorty," said Si, bending156 over the board -with the charcoal to begin the work. "We'll make it that way, anyway." - -The next day passers-by saw a white board nailed up over the door, which -contained a charcoal sketch of a soldier seated on a chunk of wood, with -a pipe in his mouth, taking as much ease as Si could throw into the -outlines of his face and body, and with it was this legend: - -"WHO IS YER'S REST." - -The next idea that came into the partners' minds was that the -requirements of society demanded that they give a housewarming in their -sumptuous abode. They at once set about making it a memorable social -event. - -While out with a wagon after forage they found an Indiana man who had -settled in that country. He had a good orchard. They bought from him a -barrel of pretty hard cider and several bushels of apples. His wife knew -how to make fried dough nuts of real Indiana digestibility. They would -be luxuries for the boys, and a half-bushel were contracted for. The -farmer was to bring them all in his wagon, and Si and Shorty were to -meet him at the pickets and guard the treasures to their abode. - -They bought a little bale of fragrant Kinnikinnick tobacco from the -sutler, made a sufficiency of corncob pipes, swept off the ground in -front of their house, which, as there had been no rain for several days, -was in good condition, with brooms of brush, that it might serve for a -dancing-floor, gathered in a stock of pitch-pine knots for their fire, -spoke157 to Bunty Jim to bring his fiddle along, and to Uncle Sassafras, -the Colonel's cook, to come down with his banjo, and their preparations -were completed. - -It was a crisp, delightful Winter evening, with the moon at full, the -fire burning brightly, and every body in the best of spirits. The awful -week of marching, enduring and suffering; of terrific fighting, -limitless bloodshed; of wounds and death to one158 out of every four men -in the ranks; of nerve-racking anxieties to all might as well have been -centuries ago for any sign that appeared on the bright, animated faces -of the young men who gathered in front of the cabin. They smoked, danced -old-fashioned country dances to the music of the fiddle and the banjo, -and sang songs which lamented the death of "Lily Dale," mourned that "My -Nelly was sleeping in the Hazel Dell," adjured the "Silver Moon" to -"roll on," and so on through the whole repertoire of the sentimental -ballads of that day. - -Then they were invited into the house to inspect its complete, luxurious -appointments, and feast themselves to bursting on apples, hard cider, -and doughnuts that would have tried any stomach but a young soldier's. - -Billy Gurney, who had been back to Nashville as one of the guard to a -train-load of wounded, was induced to favor the company with the newest -song, which had just reached that city. He cleared his throat with -another tincupful of cider, and started off with: - -"When this cruel war is over." - -Rapturous applause followed the first verse, and Billy started in to -teach them the chorus, so they could all join. - -A loud explosion came from the fireplace, a campkettle full of cider -that was being mulled by the fire was spattered over the company, -scalding some of them severely; stones from the fireplace and bullets -flew about the room. They all rushed out.159 Footsteps could be heard -running in the distance. They looked in that direction, and recognized -Sol Murphy's broad back and bushy head. - -"That blamed Wagonmaster dropped a nosebag with a lot o' cartridges in -it down the chimbly," said Shorty, who had made an inspection of the -fireplace. "Mad because he wasn't invited. You bet, I'll salivate him -well for that little trick." - - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. DEACON KLEGG'S SURPRISE DECIDES TO VISIT MURFREESBORO' AND -MEETS WITH ADVENTURES. - -"MOTHER," said Mr. Josiah Klegg, Sr., suddenly laying down the County -paper, and beginning to polish his spectacles with his red bandanna, "do -you know what I've the greatest mind in the world to do?" - -It was an evening in February, 1863, and the family had been sitting for -some hours after supper around the bright fire, engaged in various -occupations. - -"No, father," said Mrs. Klegg, looking up from her knitting with such -interest that she dropped several stitches. The girls stopped their -sewing, and turned expectant eyes on their father. When Mr. Josiah -Klegg, sr., announced that he had a great mind to do anything, that -thing stood in imminent danger of being done. He was not given to -ordinary schemes, still less to idle speech. He thought slowly and -doggedly, but when he had arrived at a conclusion there were 200 pounds -of solid, stubborn unchangeable Indiana farmer behind the conclusion. - -"What is it, father?" asked Mrs. Klegg, making an automatic effort to -gather up her lost stitches. - -"I've a good mind to go down to Murfreesboro' and161 see Si," responded -the father. - -"Why, father!" gasped the three "wimmen folks." - -"Go down there among them gorillas?" ejaculated Mrs. Klegg. - -"And John Morgan raiders," echoed Maria. - -"And Secesh soljers, butternut brigands, rebel rascals," added Tilda. - -"Well," answered Mr. Klegg, deliberately, "they've been peggin' away at -Si for a good many months now, and they haven't killed him by a jug -full. Guess I kin stand 'em for a few days. The papers say that the -army's settled down at Murfreesboro' for the Winter, and that the -railroad's runnin' all right from Looyiville clean there. I kin do -nothin' 'round the farm for the next three or four weeks, till Spring -opens, except the chores about the house, which Jimmie Watkins kin tend -to as well as I kin. I've got all my fences in good shape, and split all -the rails I need. There's wood enough cut to last the Winter out. I've -hauled all the wheat to town I'm goin' to till prices go higher. I -finished gittin' out my clover seed yesterday, and now there's nothin' -left for a month but to do boy's work 'round the house, or talk politics -down at the store. I'd rather go down and see Si." - -"Why, father," remonstrated Mrs. Klegg, "how kin you ever git along in -them camps, and live the way them soljers do?" - -"You forgit," said her husband, with a touch of dignity, "that I druv -team for a whole week in the Black Hawk war. I wanted to enlist, but I -was too young. Then I turned out and drilled with the militia as long as -there was any musters. I know a good162 deal more about war than you -think." - -"How do you s'pose you'll ever find Si in all that ruck o' men?" said -Mrs. Klegg doubtfully. - -"O, they all know Si by this time," returned the father confidently. -"Besides, he's an officer now. I'll go right to Gen. Rosecrans's -Headquarters. He's probably right near him, where he kin have him at any -time. But don't write to Si that I'm comin'. I want to surprise him." - -As soon as it was seen that the father was determined to go, mother and -daughters entered upon the scheme with the greatest enthusiasm. - -Each began to think of some useful thing that they could send to Si to -add to his comfort. Mrs. Klegg had already knit a couple of pairs of -lambs'-wool socks, and was at work on a third. Maria had knit a pair of -mittens, gay with the National colors and representing the flag. The -blue field with the white stars around the wrists, while the red and -white stripes ran down the fingers. When they were put on the effect was -picturesque, not to say startling. - -"When Si holds up his hands," remarked Matilda, "they'll look like big -hollyhock blossoms, and the men'll wonder where he got posies in -Winter." - -Matilda contributed a red flannel shirt, upon which she had been engaged -since the beginning of Winter reminded her that such a present would be -very acceptable to Si. She had done a lot of her finest stitching upon -it. Si's initials were wrought in white thread on the cuffs, and on the -bosom was a maze of white lines representing hearts, anchors, roses and -flags of the Union. In the center of these, in letters of bold outline -but rugged execution, was the legend: "Josiah Klegg. His shirt. From -Tildy."163 - -"Round is the ring, That has no end; So is my luv for you, My dearest -friend." - -"I know it ain't quite right to speak of Si as a friend," she explained, -when she spread the shirt out for the family's examination and -admiration; "but I couldn't think of nothin' to rhyme with brother." - -"I could," said Maria, in her superior way. "I'd said somethin' like -this: - -"The ring's no end From which to t'other; So is the love I send My -onliest brother." - -"Maria, you always was so much smarter'n me in writin' poetry," admitted -Matilda. "It would've bin ever so much nicer. But it's too late now to -do it over agin." - -Annabel was sorely puzzled what to send. She wanted something that would -be indicative of her feelings toward Si, and yet maiden modesty -restrained with the fear of sending something that might be too -significant. She spent a sleepless night thinking it over, and finally -decided to send a new ambrotype of herself, with a lock of her hair. It -is needless to say that this kept Si warmer than a whole bale of flannel -shirts would have done. - -A thousand things occurred to the family that Si would enjoy, from a -couple of feather pillows to a164 crock of "head cheese," of which Si -used to be immensely fond. The old hair trunk was brought down from the -garret, and its dimensions studied. But the next evening Jim Wilkins, of -Co. Q, who was home patching up a leg which had caught a bullet at Stone -River, came in, and his advice was asked. - -"No, sir-ree," said he, emphatically. "Don't you never take no trunk nor -no box. Don't you take nothin' that you can't hang on to, and keep your -eye on every minute. I think the Army o' the Cumberland is the most -honestest army in the whole world. I'd knock any man down in a minute -that hinted there was a single thief in it. All the same, the only sure -way to keep anything you want is to never let go of it for a second. -You'd better only take a carpetsack, and look mighty sharp after that, -the nearer you git to the army. Keep one eye on it all the time after -you cross the Ohio River, and both eyes on it when you git to -Murfreesboro'." - -A Stoutly-built, Farmer-looking Man Entered the Train 164 - -A week later a strongly-built, farmer-looking man entered the Nashville -train at Louisville and looked anxiously around among the crowd of -soldiers with which it was filled. His full, resolute face was destitute -of whiskers, except a clump of sandy hair on his chin. He wore a coarse -but warm overcoat, a black slouch hat, around his neck was a voluminous -yarn comforter, and mittens of the same generous proportions were on his -hands, one of which held a bulging blue umbrella and the other a large -striped carpetsack. - -He found a vacant seat beside a rough-looking soldier, who had evidently -been drinking, placed his precious carpetsack between his heavy, well- -oiled boots, stuck his umbrella beside it, unwound his comforter, laid -it back on his shoulders, took off his mittens, unbuttoned his overcoat, -and took from his pocket a long plug of navy tobacco, from which he cut -off a liberal chew, and then courteously tendered the plug and knife to -his neighbor, with the ramark:166 - -"Have a chaw, stranger." - -The soldier took the plug, cut it in two, put the bigger part in his own -pocket, sliced off a liberal portion off the other for his own mouth, -and then rather reluctantly handed the remainder, with the knife, back -to Mr. Klegg, without so much as a "thankee." - -"Manners seem a little different in the army from what they are in -Injianny," thought Mr. Klegg; "but mebbe the soldier's not had a chance -to git any terbaker for a long time." - -He chewed meditatively for some minutes, and then made another friendly -advance toward his seat-partner. - -"S'pose we'll start purty soon, won't we, stranger?" - -"The devil you do," responded the other surlily, and sending over a -strong whisky breath. "Don't know much about this blamed old start-when- -it-pleases and stop-when-you-don't-want-to railroad. We'll start when -some young sardine with shoulder-straps finishes his breakfast, and stop -when John Morgan tears up the track. If you didn't feed your hog's any -better'n this train runs, old Hayseed, they'd starve to death in a -month." - -"He ain't jest what you'd call perlite," thought Mr. Klegg, as he -meditatively chewed for a little while longer. "But mebbe that's the way -in the army. Probably Si's got jest that way, too." - -He chewed meditatively for a few minutes longer. The air was getting -very redolent of the fumes from his neighbor's breath. "I hope Si ain't -got to drinking like that," he sighed, as a particularly strong167 whiff -reached him. "If he has, I won't rest a minute till I've yanked him up -before Gen. Rosecrans and made him take the pledge. Gen. Rosecrans can't -afford to have officers around him who drink. 'Tain't right to trust -men's lives to 'em." - -"Say, ole Sorrel-top," said the soldier, turning to ward him, "give us -another bite o' that terbaker o' yours, will you?" - -Mr. Klegg did not like the tone nor the manner, but he produced his -tobacco, and began prudently clipping off a fair-sized chew for his -companion him self. - -"O, the devil, that ain't no chaw," said the other, pulling the tobacco -and knife from his hand. "Don't be stingy with your terbaker, old -Hawbuck. You kin git plenty more." - -He sliced a strip off clear across the plug, and stuffed it into his -mouth. - -"You don't chaw terbaker. You jest eat it," remonstrated the long- -suffering Mr. Klegg. - -"Here, I'll take some o' that, too," said another soldier on the seat in -front, snatching at the knife and tobacco. - -"No you won't, you sardine," angrily responded the first soldier. "This -gentleman's a friend o' mine. I won't see him robbed." - -The reply was a blow, and the two were soon mixed up in a savage fight. -Mr. Klegg was alarmed, lest one of them should be hurt with the heavy, -sharp knife, and he mixed in to get it in his hand. In the scuffle his -hat, mittens and comforter were thrown to the floor and trampled in the -tobacco juice. The provost-guard rushed in, a stalwart Sergeant168 -separated the combatants, jammed the first soldier down in the seat -until the timbers cracked, banged the other one's head against the side -of the car, and remarked: - -"Confound you, don't either o' you raise a hand or open your mouths, or -I'll break both your necks. Old man, you keep mighty quiet, too. Hain't -you got no sense, to mix up in such a row? You're old enough to know -better. I'll snatch you off this train if you make any more -disturbance." - -Mr. Klegg's blood was up. He wanted to thrash the whole crowd, including -the Sergeant, and felt equal to it. But the cry was raised that the -train was going. The Sergeant hastened off, with a parting admonition to -him to keep still if he knew what was good for him. - -"I'm afeared the army's a mighty rough place," thought Mr. Klegg, as he -gathered up his soiled belongings and tried to straighten them out. "I -wonder if it'll git wuss the nearer we git to the front?" - -The train pulled out of Louisville, and he became interested in the -great banks of red earth, crowned with surly, black-mouthed cannon, -where the forts were, the rows of white tents in the camps, the -innumerable droves of horses and mules in the corrals, and the long -trains of army wagons. - -"I'm goin' to stock up with some horses when I git back," he said to -himself. "The Government seems to need a powerful sight o' them, and -prices is goin' up faster'n wheat." - -Things had now been tolerably quiet in the car for over half an hour, -entirely too long for a party of soldiers returning to the front. -Monotonous peace169 was obnoxious to them. A two-fisted young fellow up -toward the front rose up, drained the last drops from a pint flask, -dashed the bottle on the floor, and yelled: - -"Here's for a quiet life, and peace and good will.170 I belong to John -F. Miller's Brigade, the best brigade in the Army of the Cumberland, and -the only one that captured any guns at Stone River. I can lick any man -in McCook's Corps." - -The answering yell that went up seemed to indicate that nearly all in -the car belonged to McCook's Corps. There was a general peeling off of -overcoats, and a rush forward of answerers to his bold challenge. A few -yelled, - -"Hooray for Miller's Brigade!" - -"Hooray for Crittenden's Corps!" - -"Hooray for Pap Thomas!" - -and started in to help out the Miller man. Mr. Klegg rose to his feet in -dismay. Before he could think the soldier beside him picked up his -carpetsack and flung it at the Miller's Brigade man. Mr. Klegg groaned -as he thought of the consequences to a jar of honey and a crock of -butter, which Mrs. Klegg had put in for Si's delectation. - -The Free Fight. 169 - -The combatants came together with the hearty zeal of men who had been -looking for a fight for a straight month. The soldier beside Mr. Klegg -snatched up the umbrella and began laying about him. The crash was -fearful. The backs of the seats were wrenched off, the carpetsack -trodden under foot, the windows broken out, and finally Mr. Klegg found -himself on the floor of the car under a mass of struggling, fighting, -striking and kicking men. - -The train came to a halt at a station. The guards on the platform rushed -in, and by dint of a vigorous use of gun-butts and other persuasives, -and more strong language than Mr. Klegg had ever heard before in all his -life, succeeded in quieting the171 disturbance and making the men take -their seats. Mr. Klegg recovered his carpetsack, his comforter, mittens, -hat and umbrella, and sat down again. He turned around and glared at the -soldier by his side. - -"If it warn't for startin' another fight," he said to himself, "I'd -punch his infernal head." - -But the soldier had gone to sleep; he lolled his head over in Mr. -Klegg's lap and snored loudly. - -For two or three hours afterward the train rattled along without -particular incident. Mr. Klegg recovered his composure, and got very -much interested in the country through which they were passing, and its -farming possibilities. These did not strike him favorably, and he was -more than ever convinced that the Wabash Valley was the garden spot of -the world. Finally, the train stopped and backed on to a switch to allow -another to pass. - -An enterprising man had put up a shanty near the track, with a long -shelf in front, upon which were displayed sandwiches, pies, boiled eggs, -and other eatables. The men all rushed out of the car. Mr. Klegg had -begun to feel hungry himself, and joined them. - -"How much for that pie?" he asked, pointing to one. - -"Half-a-dollar," answered the keeper. "Fifty cents for pies, 25 cents -for sandwiches, 10 cents for a cup of coffee." - -"Too blamed much," shouted a chorus of voices. "An infernal pirate come -down here to skin the soldiers. Let's clean him out." - -Before Mr. Klegg fairly understood the words everything was snatched up. -Those who did not get172 hold of any of the viands began on the shed. It -was torn to pieces, the stove kicked over, the coffee spilled on the -ground, and the eating-house keeper and his assistants scuttled away out -of danger. The whistle sounded, they all rushed back into the cars, and -Mr. Klegg had to stay his hunger with another chew of tobacco. - -Again there was tolerable peace for several hours, broken at last by the -sudden stoppage of the train out in the country, the sound of shots, and -the yell of "Guerrillas! Guerrillas!" - -Everybody bolted out of the cars. Those who had guns buckled on their -cartridge-boxes, and formed in line, ready for orders. A squad of rebel -cavalry had been trying to tear up the track, but were surprised by the -unexpected appearance of the train. They had fallen back to the top of -the hill, to see how many were aboard, and whether it looked profitable -to make an attack. They were keeping up a desultory fire at long range. - -Mr Klegg had seen a gun standing in the corner as he ran out. He picked -it up and joined one of the squads. He was no coward, and if there had -to be fighting, he was willing to do his share. - -Mr. Klegg Ready for Action. 172 - -"Bully for you, old Hayseed," said the man who had wanted to whip any -man in the right wing of the army. "You're made of the right stuff, -after all." - -Others around him nodded approval, and Mr. Klegg was conscious that the -social atmosphere was more pleasant for him. - -The guerrillas finally decided to give the job up, and rode away, after -yelling some 'very uncomplimentary things about Yankee soldiers -generally. - -When Mr. Klegg returned to his seat he found his carpetsack, umbrella, -mittens, and comforter gone. Likewise the man who had been riding with -him. He waxed very wroth, and lifted up his voice to let them know it. -Several around began to guy him, but suddenly the man from Miller's -Brigade forced his way174 through the crowd and asked: - -"What's the matter, 'Squire?" - -Mr. Klegg explained. - -"Well, you've got to have every one of them things back again, if I've -to lick every man on the train. I'll not see an old man and as good a -man as you are mistreated where I am. I've got a father my self." - -This time he was in the large majority. All of McCook's men were with -him. A general hunt was instituted through the train, and one by one his -possessions were recovered and brought back to him. - -"Thankee, gentlemen; thankee very kindly. Will any o' you gentlemen have -a chaw of terbaker? It's all I have to offer you, but it's good." - -When the train pulled into Nashville that night a very tired old farmer -got off and inquired: - -"How much farther is it to Murfreesboro'?" - -"About 25 miles," someone answered. - -"I'm awful glad to hear it. If it was 30 miles I don't believe I could -stand it." - - - - - -CHAPTER XV. DEACON KLEGG'S ARRIVAL IS MISTAKEN FOR A KNIGHT OF THE -GOLDEN CIRCLE. - -"THINGS don't look so tumultuous-like on this train," said Mr. Klegg, -with a sigh of satisfaction, as he seated himself in the car for -Murfreesboro' and deposited his valuables by his side. "I know that boys -will be boys, and I like to see them have fun just as well as any other -man, but I must say that they made things on that other train a little -too lively for a middle-aged Deacon of the Baptist Church." - -A broad-shouldered Provost-Sergeant walked through the car, with an air -of authority, and gave orders to several who were seated in it. - -"Must be the Constable, or Sheriff, or Town Marshal," mused Mr. Klegg. -"I hope he'll stay on the train till we reach Murfreesboro', and keep -order." - -Mr. Klegg was right. The irregularities and disorders of the "rear" -ended at Nashville. There the strict discipline of the "front" began -under the iron sway of the Provost-Marshal, whose guards were -everywhere, particularly at the depots and on the cars. The occupants of -the car were as orderly as the boys at a country school when the master -is on his throne, with his eyes about him. - -It was a bright day, and the country roundabout176 of surpassing -interest to the Indiana farmer. He saw the domed, stately capitol of -Tennessee crowning the highest hill, and lording a glorious landscape of -hill and valley, through which the Cumberland River flowed in majestic -sweeps, like a broad girdle of sparkling silver. Then came the frowning -forts, with beetling banks of blood-red clay, with terror-striking black -guns, with rugged palisades, and a porcupine bristle of abatis. Sentries -with gleaming muskets paced their high parapets. Every mile, as far as -he could see, was full of objects of engrossing interest. - -He became so absorbed in the feast of his eyes that he did not observe -that a middle-aged, clean shaven man in a suit of dusty black had sat -down beside him, and was studying him with attention. - -"How do you do, my friend?" said he at length, putting out his hand. - -Mr. Klegg turned with a start, and instinctively put out his hand. - -"Howdy," he said, with a tone of little encouragement, for he would much -rather have continued watching the country than indulge in purposeless -conversation. The stranger grasped his hand warmly, and pressed his -thumb upon the first joint of Mr. Klegg's, and caught his little finger -in a peculiar way. Deacon Klegg had been initiated into the Odd Fellows, -and he dimly recognized this as a "grip," but he could not associate it -for the moment with any of the degrees of the brotherhood of the Three -blinks. - -"Were you out late last night," said the stranger in a low, deeply- -impressive tone.177 - -"Not pertickerlerly," answered Deacon Klegg, turning to catch a view of -the stockade at La Vergne, where the 1st Mich. Eng. had made such a -gallant defense. "I'd a mighty bothersome day, and was purty well -tuckered out. I found a good place to sleep, and I turned in rather -airly. Say," continued he, pointing to the wreckage of battle, "the boys -seem to have poked it to 'em purty lively out there." - -"It was a very sharp fight," returned the other; "but for once our -friend Wheeler made a mistake, and lost heavily. Down the road farther -you'll see evidences of his more successful work in some miles of burnt -wagons." - -"Bad man, that Gen. Wheeler," said the Deacon, looking steadfastly out -of the window. - -The stranger looked a little disappointed, but he rallied, and presently -gave the second grand hailing sign of the Knights of the Golden Circle, -in the same low, impressive tone: - -"Did you see a star last night?" - -"Can't say that I did," responded Mr. Klegg rather indifferently. "There -was lots of gas-lamps burning, and I was rather taken with them, so that -I didn't notice the moon or stars. Besides, as I told you before, I -turned in purty airly, for I was tired with my ride from Looyville, and -I wanted to git in good shape for the trip to-day." - -A cloud of annoyance came upon the stranger's face, and he did not speak -again for a minute or two. Then he said: - -"You are from Indiana, are you not?" - -"Yes," said Mr. Klegg. - -"From Posey County?"178 - -"Yes." - -"I knew so. I've been looking for you for several days." - -"Looking for me?" said Deacon Klegg, turning around in amazement. "How -come you to be lookin' for me? What business have you got with me? How'd -you know I was a-comin'? Nobody knowed it outside o' Mariar, my wife, -and my family."179 - -Deacon Klegg and the Knight of The Golden Circle. - -"Come, come, now," said the other impatiently. "Don't try to play off on -me. You needn't be afraid. I'm all right. I'm Deputy Grand Organizer for -the Knights for Southern Indiana and the jurisdiction of Louisville -generally. You ought to remember me. I recollect you perfectly. I -organized the Lodges in Poseyville, and all through your County. I -planted the seed there for a big crop of Butternuts that'll help hurl -the tyrant Lincoln from his bloody throne, and give the country back -into the hands of the white man. I got word that you were coming down -with important information from your section for Gen. Bragg and John -Morgan, and I've been on the lookout for you." - -An understanding of what the man was, and what he was driving at, began -to slowly filter into Deacon Klegg's mind, and his temper to rise. - -"Confound you, you pizen Copperhead," he said wrathfully. "What do you -take me for? Do you take me for a miserable, traitorous Knight o' the -Golden Circle? I'm a member o' the church, or I'd punch your pizen head. -I'm a loyal man, and I've got a son fightin' for the Union." - -"H-u-s-h," said the unconvinced man, laying his hand on the Deacon's -arm. "Don't talk so loud. They're watching us." - -Klegg shook his hand off angrily, but the warning came too late. The -Provost-Sergeant had been watching them, at the instigation of a sharp- -eyed, clerkly-looking man in semi-uniform. - -The Sergeant strode toward them, followed by a soldier with a gun. - -"I arrest you both," said he. "You are men that180 we've been looking -for. You'll stay right there in your seats till we get to Murfreesboro', -and this man 'll see that you do." - -The soldier took position at the end of the seat, and dropped the end of -his musket on the floor with an I've-got-my-orders-an'-I'm-going-to- -stay-right-here look on his face. - -"You've been lookin' for me," gasped Deacon Klegg. "Who else's been -lookin' for me, I'd like to know? Is the whole State o' Tennessee -lookin' for me? What was you lookin' for me for? Think I've run away -from Injianny without pay in' my debts? Think I want to desert my wife -and children? Young man, you don't know Josiah Klegg. I've got a quarter -section of as good land as there is in the Wabash bottoms, and I don't -owe a dollar on it. As for leavin' Maria Klegg, I wouldn't do it for the -whole State of Injianny. What've you been lookin' for me for, I'd like -to know?" - -"Old man, I haven't time to talk to you, and it ain't my business. -You'll find out soon enough, when you git to headquarters, and so will -your partner there." - -"My partner," echoed Deacon Klegg. "This man's no partner o' mine. I -never laid eyes on him till a half-hour ago." - -"Continue your speech at headquarters," said the Sergeant, as he moved -off. "I haven't time to listen to it now. You'd better save your breath -till then, for you'll have to do some mighty slick talkin' to save your -spying neck, I can tell you that." - -Deacon Klegg sank back in the seat dumfounded. "What on airth kin he -mean?" he gasped.181 - -"It's another of the outrages of the despot Lincoln," answered his -companion. "It's another of the arbitrary arrests by his military -satraps. Liberty is dead in this country until we can overthrow that -nigger-loving usurper." - -"Shut up," said the Deacon savagely. "If you say another word I'll mash -you. I won't be disturbed when I'm tryin' to think things out." - -"I want that carpetsack and umbrella of yours," said the Sergeant, -coming back. "I've no doubt you've got 'em both full of treasonable -documents and information for your rebel friends. Guard, watch both -these men closely, and see that they don't destroy any papers, nor throw -anything out the window." - -"Young man," said the Deacon resolutely, "you can't have that carpetsack -or that umbreller. They're my property. If you tech 'em I'll have the -law on you. I'll sue you for trespass, larceny, assault and battery, and -intent to provoke. I hain't done nothin' to justify it. I'm Josiah -Klegg, of Posey County, Injianny, Deacon in the Ebenezer Church, on Mill -Crick. I'm goin' down to Murfreesboro' to visit my son, Josiah Klegg, -jr., o' the 200th Injianny Volunteers. You all know him. He's an -officer; he's the boy that tried to git a commissary wagon away from the -rebels durin' the battle, and he and Shorty 've got a house with a tin -roof." - -The other occupants gathered around and laughed derisively. - -"Twon't do, old man," said the Sergeant, trying to wrest the carpetsack -away. "You tell a pretty story, and you're well disguised, but we're -onto you.182 We got full particulars about you from Louisville. You're a -bad lot down there in Posey County. There's a Knights of the Golden -Circle Lodge under every sycamore. You'd be at Gen. Bragg's headquarters -to-morrow night if we let you alone." - -He pulled hard at the carpetsack, and Deacon Klegg resisted with all his -sturdy might. His strength was quite a match for the Sergeant's, but -other soldiers came to help the latter. The handles came off in the -struggle, and the Deacon was forced down into his seat. The other man -took advantage of the confusion to work his way through the crowd to the -door and jump off. This angered the Sergeant, and coming back to where -Mr. Klegg sat, exhausted and intensely mad, he said: - -"I'll make sure that you don't get away, anyhow. I ought to've done this -at first." - -So saying, he snapped a hand-cuff over Mr. Klegg's wrist and then over -the arm of the seat. - -The Deacon was never so humiliated in his life. He was simply speechless -in his rage and mortification. - -Among the many of Gen. Rosecrans's eccentricities and vagrant fancies -was one for prowling around through his camps at night, wearing a -private's overcoat and cap. One night he strolled into the camp of the -200th Ind. The superior architecture of Si and Shorty's cabin struck -him, and he decided to look inside. He knocked on the door. - -"Come in," shouted Si.183 - -He entered, and found Si engaged with Tom Billings in a game of checkers -for the championship of the 200th Ind. Shorty was watching the game -intently, as Si's counselor, and Zeke Tomkins was giving like assistance -to Tom Billings. Two other crack players were acting as umpires. The -light from the fire shone brightly upon them, but left the front of the -room, where the General stood, in complete darkness. They were so -absorbed in the game that they merely looked up, saw that the newcomer -was a private soldier, and supposed that he had merely dropped in to -watch the game. - -"Did you clean your feet on the bayonet outside the door?" demanded -Shorty, as he fixed his eyes again on the red and white grains of corn, -which represented the men on the board. - -"No, I forgot," said the General quietly. "Well, go right outside and -clean 'em off," ordered Shorty. "Don't want no mud tracked in here for -us to carry out agin." - -The General, much amused, went out, carefully scraped his boots, and -then returned. - -"All right," said Shorty, looking up as he reentered. "Now look all you -like, but don't say nothin'. Nobody s allowed to say a word but the -players and the umpires." - -The game proceeded in silence for several minutes, and the General -became much interested. It was one of his peculiarities that he could -not help getting interested in anything that his soldiers were doing, -from the boiling of a cup of coffee or the pitching of a tent to the -alignment of a company. Si was getting a little the better of Billings, -and184 the General's sympathies naturally went toward the loser. He -touched Billings on the shoulder, as he was about to make a move, and -said: - -The General Interrupts the Game 184 - -"Don't do that. You'll open your king row. - -"Move—" - -Shorty was alert on the instant. - -"Shut up," he commanded. "You've no business talkin'; I told you when -you come in you weren't allowed to say nothin'." - -"Excuse me," said the General; "I quite forgot." - -"Well, see that you don't forgit agin," growled Shorty. "We've got quite -enough talent in the game already. We don't want no more to come in." - -Again the game proceeded in intent silence for some minutes. Then Si -called out: - -"Hold on; you can't jump backwards with that man. That ain't no king." - -"I say it is a king," said Billings. "I got him into the row half an -hour ago, and crowned him. You knocked the crown off when you moved." - -"I know better," said Shorty. "I've been watching that piece right -along, and he's never been nearer the king-row than he is this minute." - -A hot discussion ensued. The General forgot him self and joined in in -his usual positive, authoritative way. - -"I say the man had been crowned. I saw him crowned and the crown -afterward knocked off. There's the crown by the side there." - -Shorty's wrath rose. "I told you when you come in here," he said -sharply, "not to mix into this game. You've got no business in it. Keep -your advice till it's asked for, or git out o' the tent. If you don't -git out I'll put you out." - -"Be careful, my man," said the General, speaking in his usual way. "You -are talking to an officer." - -"I don't care if you are a Lieutenant or a Captain, even," Si chimed in; -"you have no business mixing in a quiet little game o' checkers -between186 enlisted men." - -"I am more than a Captain," said the General, opening his overcoat -slightly, to show his double dow of buttons. - -"Dern' a Major or a Colonel don't make it much better," said Si, -obdurately, but with much more respect. - -"I'm higher than a Colonel," said the General, amusedly, and opening his -overcoat a little farther. - -"Excuse us, General," they all murmured, rising to their feet, and -taking the position of a soldier. - -"You don't command our brigade, do you?" said Shorty, trying to get a -better view of his face. - -"I command this brigade, and several others," said the General, -smilingly enjoying their confusion. - -"Lord, a Major-General commanding a corps," gasped Shorty, backing up -with the rest into line, and saluting with the profoundest respect. - -"Still higher," laughed the General, stepping for ward to where the -light fell full on his face. "I'm Maj.-Gen. Rosecrans, commanding this -army. But don't be disturbed. You've done nothing. You are all entitled -to your opinions, as free American citizens; but I will insist that that -man had been in the king row, and should be crowned. But you settle that -among yourselves. - -"I merely dropped in to compliment you on the skill you have shown in -building your house and its comfort. I'm glad to find that it looks even -better inside than out. I know that you are good soldiers from the way -you take care of yourselves. But so fine a house ought to have a better -checker-board than a barrel-head, with grains of corn for men. Who are -the owners of the house?"187 - -"Me and him," said Shorty, indicating himself and Si. - -"Very good," said the General; "both of you report at my Headquarters -to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock. Good night." - -"Three cheers and a tiger for Old Rosey," yelled Shorty as soon as he -could get his scattered wits together enough to say a word. - -They gave three such rousing cheers that the rest of Co. Q came running -out of their tents, and joined in cheering, as fast as the news could be -communicated to them. - -The next morning a squad of prisoners was being conducted toward Army -Headquarters. At their head walked a stout, middle-aged farmer, carrying -a portly blue umbrella. He had spent the night among the riotous spirits -in the guard-house, and had evidently undergone much wear and tear. He -looked as if things had not been going his way at all. By him marched -the stalwart Provost-Sergeant, with a heavy striped carpetsack under his -arm. - -Gen. Rosecrans rode up at the head of his staff, from an early morning -inspection of some part of the camp. The men saluted and cheered. - -"Whom have you here, Sergeant?" said the General, reining up his horse -beside the squad. - -"That's Gen. Rosecrans," said one of the guards to Deacon Klegg. - -"Nobody of importance," replied the Sergeant, "except this old man here. -He's a Knight of the188 Golden Circle, that we've been watching for for -some time, going through with information and other things from the -Knights of Indiana to the enemy in Tullahoma. I've got his carpetsack -here. I expect it's full of papers and contraband stuff. It feels as if -it had lead in it. I am taking him to the Provost-Marshal's for -examination." - -He set the heavy carpetsack down on the ground, to rest for a minute. - -"Gen. Rosecrans, it's all a plaguey lie," burst out Deacon Klegg. "I'm -as loyal a man as there is in the State of Injianny. I voted for Abe -Lincoln and Oliver P. Morton. I've come down here to visit my son, -Josiah Klegg, jr., of the 200th Injianny Volunteers. You know him, -General. He's one o' your officers. He's a Corporal. He's the boy that -tried to take a commissary wagon away from the rebels durin' the battle, -and he's got a house with a tin roof. You recollect that, don't you?" - -Some of the staff laughed loudly, but the General checked them with a -look, and spoke encouragingly to the Deacon. - -"Yes, General," continued Mr. Klegg, "I knowed you'd know all about him -the minit I mentioned him to you. I told this over and over agin to -these plaguey fools, but they wouldn't believe me. As to that carpetsack -havin' things for the enemy, it's the biggest lie that ever was told. -I'll open it right here before you to show you. I've only got some -things that my wife and the girls was sendin to Si." - -He fumbled around for his keys. - -"Possibly you have made a mistake, Sergeant," said the General. "What -evidence have you?"189 - -"We'd got word to look out for just such a man, who'd play off the dodge -of being an old plug of a farmer on a visit to his son." - -Meeting Between si and his Father. 189 - -"He was on the train with a man whom all the detectives know as one of -the worst Knights in the gang. They were talking together all the way. -I190 arrested the other one, too, but he slipped away in the row this -man made to distract our attention." - -In the meantime Deacon Klegg had gotten his carpetsack open for the -General's inspection. It was a sorry sight inside. Butter, honey, -shirts, socks, boots, and cakes are excellent things taken separately, -but make a bad mixture. Deacon Klegg looked very dejected. The rest -grinned broadly. - -"I don't seem to see anything treasonable so far," said the General. -"Sergeant, take the rest of your prisoners up to the Provost-Marshal, -and leave this man with me." - -"Gen. Rosecrans," said a familiar voice, "you ordered us to report to -you this mornin' at 10 o'clock. We're here." - -The General looked up and saw Corporal Si Klegg and Shorty standing at a -"salute." - -"Si!" said the Deacon, joyously, sticking out a hand badly smeared with -honey and butter. - -"Pap!" shouted the Corporal, taking the hand in rapture. "How in the -world did you git down here?" - -They all laughed now, and the General did not check them. - -"Corporal," said he, "I turn this man over to you. I'll hold you -responsible that he don't communicate with the enemy. But come on up to -Headquarters and get your checker-board. I have a very nice one for -you." - -192 - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. IN A NEW WORLD DEACON KLEGG HAS A LITTLE EXPERIENCE OF LIFE -IN THE ARMY. - -"Pap" said Si, by way of introduction, "this is Shorty, my pardner, and -the best pardner a feller ever had, and the best soldier in the Army of -the Cumberland." - -"Glad to see you, Mr. Klegg," said Shorty, reddening and grasping the -father's outstretched hand; "but you orter 've broke that boy o' your'n -o' lyin' when he was young." - -"He never did lie," said the Deacon cheerfully, "and I don't believe -he's lyin' now. I've heard a great deal o' you, Mr. Shorty, and I'm sure -he's tellin' the truth about you." - -"Drop the Mister, Pap," said Si. "We never call each other Mister here, -except when we're mad." - -Si took the carpetsack under his arm, and they trudged up toward Army -Headquarters. - -Relieved of anxiety as to his own personal safety, and having found his -son, Deacon Klegg viewed everything around him with open-eyed interest. -It was a wonderfully new and strange world into which the sober, -plodding Indiana farmer had dropped. The men around him spoke the speech -to which his ears were accustomed, but otherwise they were as foreign as -if they had come from the heart of China.193 - -Their dress, their manners, their actions, the ways in which they were -busying themselves, had no resemblance to anything seen on the prosaic -plains of the Wabash in his half-century of life there. The infantry -sweeping over the fields in endless waves, the dashing cavalcades of -officers and staffs, the bewildering whirl of light batteries dazed him. -Even Si awed him. It was hard to recognize in the broad-shouldered, -self-assured young soldier, who seemed so entirely at home in his -startling surroundings, the blundering, bashful hobbledehoy boy of a few -months before, whose feet and hands were constantly in the way, and into -everything else that they should not be. - -"Somehow, Si," he said, looking at his offspring with contemplative eye, -"you seem to have growed like a cornstalk in July, and yit when I come -to measure you you don't seem no taller nor heavier than when you went -away. How is it?" - -"Don't know, Pap," Si answered. "I feel as if I'd had more'n 10 long -years o' growth since we crossed the Ohio River. Yit, you don't seem a -minute older than when I went away." - -"I didn't feel no older," returned the father, "until I got in that -guard-house last night. Then I could feel my hair gittin' grayer every -hour, and my teeth droppin' out." - -"I'm afraid you didn't git much chance to sleep, Pap," said Si -sympathetically. - -"Loss o' sleep was the least part of it," said the Deacon feelingly. "I -kin stand a little loss o' sleep without any partickler bother. It -wasn't bein' kept awake so much as the way I was kept awake that bore on -me." - -"Why, what happened?" asked Si. - -"Better ask what didn't happen," groaned his father. "Used to have some -mighty rough shivarees when I was a boy, and'd jest settled on the -Wabash. Lots o' toughs then, 'specially 'mong the flatboat-men, who'd -nothin' to drink but new sod-cornwhisky, that'd fight in every spoonful. -But for sure, straight-out tumultuousness that guard-house last night -gave six pecks for every bushel of a Wabash shivaree." - -Shorty looked meaningly at Si. "Guard-house fellers's likely to be a -ructionary lot o' roosters. Awful sorry you got in among 'em. Was they -very bad?" - -"Well, I should say. When I was chucked in they wuz havin' a regular -prize fight, 'cordin' to rules, as to whether Rousseau or Negley wuz the -best General. The Rousseau man got licked, and then the other Rousseau -men wuzzent satisfied, and proposed to lick all the Negley men in the -guard-house; but the Sheridan men interfered, and made the Rousseau men -cool down. They they turned their attention to me. They raised a row -about a citizen being put in among them. It was a disgrace. The guard -house was only intended for soldiers and gentlemen, and no place for -condemned civilians. Then some one said that I had been arrested as a -Knight o' the Golden Circle, on my way to Bragg, with information from -the Injianny Knights. Another insisted that he knowed me, and that I wuz -Vallandigham himself, brought down there to be sent through the lines. -Then I thought sure they'd kill me on the spot. I begged and pled and -denied. Finally, they organized a court-martial to try me for my -life.194 - -"They had an awful tonguey feller that acted as Prosecutin' Attorney, -and the way he blackguarded me was a shame. He said the word 'traitor' -was wrote in every liniment o' my face; that I wuz a dyed-in-the-wool -butternut, and that the bag I'd brung along with me contained the -muster-rolls of 100,000 Injiannians who'd bin swore in to fight for Jeff -Davis. - -"The feller that they appinted to defend me admitted the truth of all -that the other feller'd said. He said that no one could look in my -Southern Injianny face without seem' Secession, treason and nigger- -lovin' wrote there in big letters. He could only ask the honorable court -for mercy instid o' justice, and that I be shot instid o' hung, as I -deserved. - -"When they asked me what I'd got to say in my own defense I told 'em the -truth, and said that I'd come down here to visit my son, who they all -knowed they must know Si Klegg. o' the 200th Injianny Volunteers, who -was an officer, and had a house with a tin roof. - -"Then they all got up and yelled. They said they knowed Si Klegg only -too well; that he wuz the meanest, oneriest soljer in the army, and that -he looked just like me. They had him in the guard house now. He'd bin -put in for stealin' a hoe-cake from a blind nigger half-way back to -Nashville durin' the battle. - -"They brought up the dirtiest, scaliest lookin' man in the guard-house, -and said that was Si Klegg, and that he resembled me so much that they -wuz sure he wuz my son. They asked him if he reckernized me as his dad, -and after they kicked him two195 or three times he said he did, but he -wuz goin' to cut his throat now, since they'd found it out. He couldn't -stand everything. Then they said they'd postpone execution on condition -that I'd kneel down, drink a pint o' whisky, take the oath o' allegiance -to Abe Lincoln, and sing 'We'll hang Jeff Davis on a sour-apple tree.' - -"I told 'em I wuz perfectly willin' to take the oath to Abe Lincoln as -often as they pleased; that he wuz my man from start to finish; that I -wanted Jeff Davis hung the minit we ketched him. I'd sing the song if -they'd learn it to me, though I've not sung anything but hymns for the -last 25 years. As for the whisky, I wouldn't tech it on no account, for -I belonged to the Good Templars. - -"They all seemed pacified with this except one man, who insisted that I -should drink the whisky. One o' the Sheridan men knocked him down, and -then the fight between the Rousseau men and the Negley men broke out -afresh, and the guard come in and quieted things. By the time they'd -done this they found that the man who had reckernized me as his father -wuz tryin' to hang himself with a piece o' tent-rope. They cut him down, -larruped him with the tent-rope, and then started another court to try -me for havin' sich a son. But some officer come in and took out the -Prosecutin' Attorney and the lawyer for the defense and the Presidin' -Judge and bucked and gagged 'em. This cooled things down agin till -mornin'." - -His Honor and the 'attorney' Bucked And Gagged. - -"We might walk over to the Provost-Marshal's," suggested Shorty, "and -watch for them fellers as they come out, and take a drop out o' some of -'em."196 - -"It'll be a waste o' time," said Si, with a shrug of his shoulders. -"They'll all be doing hard labor for the next 30 days, and by that time -we'll likely have a good deal else to think about. Let's report at -Headquarters, and then take Dad over and show him our new house." - -"Yes, I'm dying to see it," said the Deacon, "and197 to git somewhere -that I kin sit down in peace and quietness. Seems to me I haven't had a -moment's rest for years, and I'm as nigh tuckered out as I ever wuz in -my life." - -At the Army Headquarters was a crowd of officers, mounted and -dismounted. Aids were arriving and departing, and there was a furore -when some General commanding a corps or division came or went, which -impressed the father greatly. Si and Shorty stood at "attention," and -respectfully saluted as the officers passed, and the Deacon tried -awkwardly, but his best, to imitate their example. Two or three spruce -young Orderlies attempted to guy him. but this thing came to a sudden -stop when Shorty took one of them quietly by the ear, and said in a low -voice: - -Shorty Admonishes the Orderly 198 - -"Don't be brash, bub. If you only knowed it, you're givin' your measure -for a first-class, custom-made lickin', and I'm the artist to do the -job. That old man's my chum's father, and I won't allow no funny -business 'round where I am." - -"We wuz ordered to report to Gen. Rosecrans," said Si to the Orderly on -duty before the tent. - -"What are you to report for?" asked a member of the staff, standing -near. "The General is very busy now, and can see no one. Who ordered you -to report?" - -"The General himself," said Si. - -The sound of his voice reached Gen. Rosecrans, in side, and busy as he -was, arrested his attention. With the kindly thoughtfulness that so -endeared him to his soldiers he instantly remembered his promise, -dropped his pen, and came to the door.198 - -"I ordered these men to report," he said to the Aid. "Bring me that -checker-board which lies on my table." - -The Aid did so. Gen. Rosecrans noticed the father, and, as usual, saw -the opportunity of doing a kindly, gracious thing. - -"You have found your son, I see," he said to him. "Sorry that you had so -much trouble. That's a fine son you have. One of the very best soldiers -in199 my army. I congratulate you upon him. Boys, here is your board and -men. I may drop in some evening and see you play a game. I'll be careful -to clean my feet, this time." - -Si and Shorty got very red in the face at this allusion, and began to -stammer excuses. The General playfully pinched Si's ear and said: - -"Go to your quarters now, you young rascal, and take your father with -you. I hope he'll have a very pleasant time while he is in camp." - -They saluted and turned away too full for utterance. After they had gone -a little distance the Deacon remarked, as if communing with himself: - -"And that is Gen. Rosecrans. Awful nice man. Nicest man I ever saw. -Greatest General in the world. Won't this be something to tell Mariar -and the girls. And the men down at the store. I'd 've come down here 40 -times jest to 've seen him and talked with him. What'd last night in the -guard house amount to, after all? A man must expect some trouble -occasionally. Wouldn't have no fun if he didn't. Say, Si, remember Old -Susy's chestnut colt?" - -"Yes," answered Si. - -"I thought he had in him the makin' o' the finest horse in Posey -County." - -"Yes," said Si. - -"Well, he's turnin' out even better'n I thought he would. Shouldn't -wonder if he could trot down somewhere nigh 2:40." - -"You don't say so." - -"Yes, indeed. You used to want that colt mighty bad, Si."200 - -"I remember that I did, Pap." - -"Well, Si, I'll give you that colt, and take good care o' him till you -come home, for that 'ere checker board." - -When they arrived at their house Si and Shorty arranged the things so as -to give the Deacon a most comfortable rest after his trying experiences, -and cooked him the best dinner their larder would afford. After dinner -they filled him a pipe-full of kinni-kinnick, and the old gentleman sat -down to enjoy201 it while Si and Shorty investigated the contents of the -carpetsack. They found endless fun in its woeful condition. The butter -and honey were smeared over everything, in the rough handling which it -had endured. They pulled out the shirt, the socks, the boots, the paper -and books, and scraped off carefully as much as they could of the -precious honey and butter. - -"It's too good to waste the least bit," said Shorty, tasting it from -time to time with unction. "Don't mind a hair or two in the butter, this -time, Si. I kin believe your mother is a good buttermaker. It's the best -I ever tasted." - - -200 (70K) - -"Well, the butter and the honey may be spiled," said Si, "but the other -things are all right. My, ain't this a nice shirt. And them socks. -Shorty, did you ever see such socks. Ever so much obliged to you, Pap, -for these boots. Old Hank Sommers's make. He's the best shoemaker in the -State of Injianny. No Quartermaster's cowhide about them. And—" - -Si stopped. He had suddenly come across Anna bel's ambrotype. He tried -to slip it into his pocket without the others seeing him. He edged -awkwardly to the door. - -"You look over the rest o' the things, Shorty," he said, with a blush -that hid his freckles. "I've got to go down and see the Orderly- -Sergeant." - -Shorty and the Deacon exchanged very profound winks. - - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. THE DEACON'S INITIATION RAPIDLY ACQUIRES EXPERIENCE OF -LIFE IN THE ARMY. - -SI ASKED questions of his father about the folks at home and the farm -until the old gentleman's head ached, and he finally fell asleep through -sheer exhaustion. - -The next day the Deacon took a comprehensive survey of the house, and -was loud in his praises of Si and Shorty's architecture. - -"Beats the cabin I had to take your mother to, Si, when I married her," -he said with a retrospective look in his eye, "though I'd got up a sight -better one than many o' the boys on the Wabash. Lays a way over the one -that Abe Lincoln's father put up on Pigeon Crick, over in Spencer -County, and where he brung the Widder Johnston when he married her. I -remember it well. About the measliest shack there wuz in the country. -Tom Lincoln, Abe's father, wuz about as lazy as you make 'em. They say -nothin' will cure laziness in a man, but a second wife 'll shake it up -awfully. The Widder Johnston had lots o' git up in her, but she found -Tom Lincoln a dead load. Abe wuz made o' different stuff." - -"Yes," continued the father, growing reminiscential. "There wuz no tin -roof, sawed boards, glass winder nor plank floor in that little shack on -the203 Wabash, but some o' the happiest days in my life wuz spent in it. -Me and your mother wuz both young, both very much in love, both chock -full o' hope and hard day's work. By the time you wuz born, Si, we'd got -the farm and the house in much better shape, but they wuz fur from being -what they are to-day." - -"If we only had a deed for a quarter section o' land around our house -we'd be purty well started in life for young men," ventured Si. - -"I'd want it a heap sight better land than this is 'round here," said -the Deacon, studying the land scape judicially. "Most of it that I've -seen so far is like self-righteousness the more a man has the worse he's -off. Mebbe it'll raise white beans, but I don't know o' nothin' else, -except niggers and poverty. The man that'd stay 'round here, scratchin' -these clay knobs, when there's no law agin him goin' to Injianny or -Illinoy, hain't gumption enough to be anything but a rebel. That's my -private opinion publicly expressed." - -"Pap," said Si, after his father had been a day in camp, "I think we've -done fairly well in providin' you with a house and a bed, but I'm -afeared that our cookin's not quite up to your taste. You see, you've -bin badly pampered by mother. I might say that she's forever spiled you -for plain grub and common cookin'." - -"Your mother's the best cook that ever lived or breathed," said the -Deacon earnestly. "She kin make plain cornbread taste better than -anybody else's pound cake. But you do well, Si, considerin' that your -mother could never git you to do so much204 as help peel a mess o' -'taters. Your coffee'd tan a side o' sole leather, and there's enough -grease about your meat to float a skiff; but I didn't expect to live at -a hotel when I come down here." - -The Deacon strolled down near Regimental Headquarters. An Aid came up -and, saluting the Colonel, said: - -"Colonel, the General presents his compliments, and instructs me to say -that he has received orders from Division Headquarters to send details -of a Corporal and five men from each regiment there to morrow morning at -7 o'clock for fatigue duty. You will furnish yours." - -"Very good," answered the Colonel, returning the salute. "Adjutant, -order the detail." - -"Sergeant-Major," said the Adjutant, after a momentary glance at his -roster, "send an order to Capt, McGillicuddy, of Co. Q, for a Corporal -and five men for fatigue duty, to report at Division Headquarters at 7 -to-morrow morning." - -The Deacon walked toward Co. Q's quarters, and presently saw the Orderly -hand the Captain the order from the Colonel. - -"Orderly-Sergeant," said the Captain, "detail a Corporal and five men to -report for fatigue duty at Division Headquarters to-morrow at 7 -o'clock." - -The Orderly-Sergeant looked over his roster, and then walked down to -Si's residence. - -"Klegg," said he, "you will report for fatigue duty at Division -Headquarters to-morrow at 7 o'clock with five men. You will take Shorty, -Simmons, Sullivan, Tomkins and Wheeler with you." - -"Very good, sir," said Si, saluting.205 - -"Si," said his father, with a quizzical smile, "I've bin wonderin', ever -since I heard that you wuz an officer, how much o' the army you -commanded. Now I see that if it wuz turned upside down you'd be on the -very top." - -"He leads the army when it goes backward," interjected Shorty. - -"Gracious, Pap," said Si, good-humoredly, "I haven't rank enough to get -me behind a saplin' on the battlefield. The Colonel has the pick o' the -biggest tree, the Lieutenant-Colonel and Major take the next; the -Captains and Lieutenants take the second growth, and the Sergeants have -the saplins. I'm lucky if I git so much as a bush." - -"Old Rosecrans must have a big saw-log," said his father. - -"Not much saw-log for old Rosey," said Si, resenting even a joking -disparagement upon his beloved General. "During the battle he wuz -wherever it wuz hottest, and on horseback, too. Wherever the firm' wuz -the loudest he'd gallop right into it. His staff was shot down all -around him, but he never flinched. I tell you, he's the greatest General -in the world." - -The next morning after breakfast, and as Si and Shorty were preparing to -go to Division Headquarters, Si said: - -"Pap, you just stay at home and keep house to day. Keep your eyes on the -boys; I tell it to you in confidence, for I wouldn't for the world have -it breathed outside the company, that Co. Q's the most everlastin' set -o' thieves that ever wore uniform. Don't you ever say a word about it -when you get206 home, for it'd never do to have the boys' folks know -anything about it. I'd break their hearts. Me and Shorty, especially -Shorty, are the only honest ones in the company. The other fellers'd -steal the house from over your head if you didn't watch 'em." - -"That's so," asseverated Shorty. "Me and Si especially me is the only -honest ones in the company. We're the only ones you kin really trust." - -"I'd be sorry to think that Si had learned to steal," said the Deacon -gravely, at which Shorty could not resist the temptation to give Si a -furtive kick. "But I'll look out for thieves. We used to have lots o' -them in Posey County, but after we hung one or two, and rid some others -on rails, the revival meetin's seemed to take hold on the rest, and they -got converted." - -"Something like that ought to be done in the army," murmured Shorty. - -"When you want anything to eat you know where to git it," said Si, as -they moved off. "We'll probably be back in time to git supper." - -The Deacon watched the squad march away, and then turned to think how he -would employ himself during the day. He busied himself for awhile -cleaning up the cabin and setting things to rights, and flattered -himself that his housekeeping was superior to his son's. Then he decided -to cut some wood. He found the ax, "condemned" it for some time as to -its dullness and bad condition, but finally attacked with it a tree -which had been hauled up back of the company line for fuel. It was hard -work, and presently he sat down to rest. Loud words of command came from -just beyond the hill, and he walked207 over there to see what was going -on. He saw a regiment drilling, and watched it for some minutes with -interest. Then he walked back to his work, but found to his amazement -that his ax was gone. He could see nobody around on whom his suspicions -could rest. - -"Mebbe somebody's borrowed it," he said, "and will bring it back when -he's through usin' it. If he don't I kin buy a better ax for 10 or 12 -bits. Somebody must have axes for sale 'round here somewhere." - -He waited awhile for the borrower to return the tool, but as he did not, -he gathered up a load of wood and carried it up to the cabin. - -"The boys'l be mighty hungry when they git back this evenin'," said he -to himself. "I'll jest git up a good supper for 'em. I'll show Si that -the old man knows some p'ints about cookin', even if he hain't bin in -the army, that'll open the youngster's eyes." - -He found a tin pan, put in it a generous supply of beans, and began -carefully picking them over and blowing the dust out, the same as he had -often seen his wife do. Having finished this to his satisfaction, he set -down the pan and went back into the cabin to get the kettle to boil them -in. When he returned he found that pan and beans had vanished, and again -he saw no one upon whom he could fix his suspicions. The good Deacon -began to find the "old Adam rising within him," but as a faithful member -of the church he repressed his choler. - -"I can't hardly believe all that Si and Shorty said about the dishonesty -of Co. Q," he communed with208 himself. "Many o' the boys in it I know -they're right from our neighborhood. Good boys as ever lived, and honest -as the day is long. Some o' them belonged to our Sunday school. I can't -believe that they've turned out bad so soon. Yet it looks awful -suspicious. The last one I see around here was Jed Baskins. His father's -a reggerly ordained preacher. Jed never could 've took them beans. But -who on airth done it?" - -The Deacon carefully fastened the door of the cabin, and proceeded with -his camp-kettle to the spring to get some water. He found there quite a -crowd, with many in line waiting for their chance at the spring. He -stood around awhile awaiting his chance, but it did not seem to get any -nearer. He said something about the length of time it took, and a young -fellow near remarked: - -"Here, Uncle, give me your kittle. I'll git it filled for you." - -Without a thought the Deacon surrendered the kettle to him, and he took -his place in line. The Deacon watched him edging up toward the spring -for a minute or two, and then his attention was called to a brigade -manuvering in a field across the river. After awhile he thought again -about his kettle, and looked for the kindly young man who had -volunteered to fill it. There were several in the line who looked like -him, but none whom he could positively identify as him. - -"Which o' you boys got my kittle?" he inquired, walking along the line. - -"Got your kittle, you blamed teamster," they an swered crossly. "Go away -from here. We won't209 allow teamsters at this spring. It's only for -soldiers. Go to your own spring." - -His kettle was gone, too. That was clear. As the Deacon walked back to -the cabin he was very hot in the region of his collar. He felt quite -shame faced, too, as to the way the boys would look on his management, -in the face of the injunctions they had given him at parting. His temper -was not improved by discovering that while he was gone someone had -carried off the bigger part of the wood he had laboriously chopped and -piled up in front of the cabin. He sat down in the doorway and meditated -angrily: - -"I'll be dumbed (there, I'm glad that Mariar didn't hear me say that. -I'm afeared I'm gittin' to swear just like these other fellers). I'll be -dumbed if I ever imagined there wuz sich a passel o' condemned thieves -on the face o' the airth. And they all seem sich nice, gentlemanly -fellers, too. What'll we do with them when they git back home?" - -Presently he roused himself up to carry out his idea of getting a good -meal ready for the boys by the time they returned, tired and hungry. He -rummaged through the cabin, and came across an old tin bucket partially -filled with scraps of paper. There did not seem to be anything of value -in it, and he tossed the contents on the smoldering fire. Instantly -there was an explosion which took the barrel off the top of the chimney, -sent the stones rattling down, filled the room full of smoke, singed the -Deacon's hair and whiskers, and sped him out of the cabin in great -alarm. A crowd quickly gathered to see what was the matter. Just then Si -appeared at the head of his squad. He and Shorty hurried to the scene of -the disturbance.210 - - -210 (71K) - -"What is the matter, Pap?" Si asked anxiously. "Why," explained his -father, "I was lookin' round for something to git water in, and I found -an old tin bucket with scraps o' paper in. I throwed them in the fire, -and I'm feared I busted your fireplace all to pieces, But I'll help you -to fix it up agin," he added deprecatingly. - -"But you ain't hurt any, are you, Pap?" asked Si,211 anxiously examining -his father, and ignoring all thought as to the damage to the dwelling. - -"No," said his father cheerfully. "I guess I lost a little hair, but I -could spare that. It was about time to git it cut, anyway. I think we -kin fix up the fireplace, Si." - -"Cuss the fireplace, so long's you're all right," answered Si. "A little -mud 'll straighten that out. You got hold o' the bucket where me and -Shorty 've bin savin' up our broken cartridges for a little private -Fourth o' July some night." - -"But, Si," said the Deacon sorrowfully, determined to have it out at -once. "They're bigger thieves than you said there wuz. They stole your -ax but I'll buy you a better one for 10 or 12 bits; they took your pan -and beans, an' took your camp-kittle, and finally all the wood that I'd -cut." - -He looked so doleful that the boys could not help laughing. - -"Don't worry about them, Pap," said Si cheer fully. "We'll fix them all -right. Let's go inside and straighten things up, and then we'll have -some thing to eat." - -"But you can't git nothin' to eat," persisted the Deacon, "because -there's nothin' to cook in." - -"We'll have something, all the same," said Shorty, with a wink of -enjoyable anticipation at Si. - -The two boys carefully stowed away their overcoats, which were rolled up -in bundles in a way that would be suspicious to a soldier. They got the -interior of the cabin in more presentable shape, and then Shorty went -out and produced a camp-kettle from somewhere, in which they made their -coffee.212 - -When this was ready, they shut the door and care fully unrolled their -overcoats. A small sugar-cured ham, a box of sardines, a can of peaches, -and a couple of loaves of fresh, soft bread developed. - -"Yum-yum!" murmured Shorty, gloating over the viands. - -"Where in the world did you git them, boys?" asked the Deacon in -wonderment.213 - -"Eat what is set before you, and ask no questions, for conscience's -sake, Pap," said Si, slicing off a piece of the ham and starting to -broil it for his father. "That's what you used to tell me." - -"Si," said the father sternly, as an awful suspicion moved in his mind, -"I hope you didn't steal 'em." - -"Of course, not, Pap. How kin you think so?" - -"Josiah Klegg," thundered the father, "tell me how you came by them -things." - -"Well, Pap," said Si, considerably abashed, "it was something like this: -Our squad was set to work to unload a car o' Christian Commission -things. Me and Shorty pulled off our overcoats and laid them in a -corner. When we got through our work and picked up our coats we found -these things in them. Some bad men had hid them there, thinkin' they wuz -their overcoats. We thought the best way wuz to punish the thieves by -takin' the things away with us. Now, here's a piece o' ham briled almost -as nice as mother could do. Take it, and cut you off a slice of that -soft bread." - -"Si, the receiver's as bad as the thief. I won't touch it." - -"Pap, the harm's been done. No matter who done it, the owner'll never -see his victuals agin. Jest as like he cribbed 'em from somebody else. -These Christian Commission things wuz sent down for us soljers, anyhow. -We'd better have 'em than the bummers around the rear. They'll spile and -be wasted if you don't eat 'em, and that'd be a sin." - -Trying to Conquer the Deacon's Scruples. 212 - -The savory ham was very appetizing, the Deacon was very hungry, and the -argument was sophistical. - -"I'll take it, Si," said he with a sigh. "I don't214 wonder that the -people down here are rebels and all that sort o' thing. It's in the air. -I've felt my principles steadily weakenin' from the time I crossed the -Ohio River." - - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. THE DEACON IS SHOCKED HE IS CAUGHT WITH THE GOODS ON HIM - -AND IS RESCUED JUST IN TIME. - -WITH the Deacon's assistance, the chimney was soon rebuilt, better than -ever, and several homelike improvements were added. The lost utensils -were also replaced, one by one. The Deacon was sometimes troubled in his -mind as to where the pan, the camp-kettle, etc., came from. Si or Shorty -would simply bring in one of them, with a sigh of satisfaction, and add -it to the house hold stock. The Deacon was afraid to ask any questions. - -One day, however, Shorty came in in a glow of excitement, with a new ax -in his hand. - -"There; isn't she a daisy," he said, holding it up and testing the edge -with his thumb. "None o' your old sledges with no more edge than a maul, -that you have to nigger the wood off with. Brand new, and got an edge -like a razor. You kin chop wood with that, I tell you." - -"It's a tolerable good ax. Wuth about 10 bits," said the Deacon, -examining the ax critically. "Last ax I bought from Ol Taylor cost 12 -bits. It was a better one. How much'd you give for this? I'll pay it -myself." - -'how Much'd You Give for This?' 216 - -"Do you know Jed Baskins thinks himself the216 best eucher player in the -200th Ind.," said Shorty, forgetting himself in the exultation of his -victory. "Jed Baskins the Rev. Jared Baskins's son a eucher player," -gasped the Deacon. "Why, his father'd no more tech a card than he would -a coal o' fire. Not so much, for I've often heard him say that a coal o' -fire kin only burn the hands, while cards scorch the soul." - -"Well, Jed," continued Shorty, "bantered me to play three games out o' -five for this here ax agin my galvanized brass watch. We wuz boss and -hoss on the first two games; on the saw-off we had four pints apiece. I -dealt and turned up the seven o' spades. Jed ordered me up, and then -tried to ring in on me a right bower from another deck, but I knowed he -hadn't it, because I'd tried to ketch it in the deal, but missed it an' -slung it under the table. I made Jed play fair, and euchered him, with -only two trumps in my hand. Jed's a mighty slick hand with the -pasteboards, but he meets his boss in your Uncle Ephraim. I didn't learn -to play eucher in the hay lofts o' Bean Blossom Crick for nothin', I kin -tell you." - -An expression of horror came into Deacon Klegg's face, and he looked at -Shorty with severe disapproval, which was entirely lost on that worthy, -who continued to prattle on: - -"Jed Baskins kin slip in more cold decks on green horns than any boy I -ever see. You'd think he'd spent his life on a Mississippi steamboat or -follerin' a circus. You remember how he cleaned out them Maumee Muskrats -at chuck-a-luck last pay-day? Why, there wuzn't money enough left in one -company to buy postage stamps for their letters home. You know how he -done it? Why, that galoot of a citizen gambler that we tossed in a -blanket down there by Nashville, and then rid out o' camp on a rail, -learned him how to finger the dice. I was sure some o' them Maumee smart -Alecks'd git on to Jed, but they didn't. I declare they wouldn't see a -six-mule team if it druv right across the board afore 'em. But I'm onto -him every minit. I told him when he tried to ring in that jack on me -that he218 didn't know enough about cards to play with our Sunday school -class on Bean Blossom Crick." - -"Josiah Klegg," said the Deacon sternly, "do you play cards?" - -"I learned to play jest a little," said Si deprecatingly, and getting -very red in the face. "I jest know the names o' the cards, and a few o' -the rules o' the game." - -"I'm surprised at you," said the Deacon, "after the careful way you wuz -brung up. Cards are the devil's own picture-books. They drag a man down -to hell jest as sure as strong drink. Do you own a deck o' cards?" - -"No, sir," replied Si. "I did have one, but I throwed it away when we -wuz goin' into the battle o' Stone River." - -"Thank heaven you did," said the Deacon devoutly. "Think o' your goin' -into battle with them infernal things on you. They'd draw death to you -jest like iron draws lightnin'." - -"That's what I was afeared of," Si confessed. - -"Now, don't you ever touch another card," said the Deacon. "Don't you -ever own another deck. Don't you insult the Lord by doin' things when -you think you're safe that you wouldn't do when you're in danger and -want His protection." - -"Yes, sir," responded Si very meekly. The Deacon was so excited that he -pulled out his red bandanna, mopped his face vigorously, and walked out -of the door to get some fresh air. As his back was turned, Si reached -slily up to a shelf, pulled down a pack of cards, and flung them behind -the back-log. - -"I didn't yarn to Pap when I told him I didn't219 own a deck," he said -to Shorty. "Them wuzn't really our cards. I don't exactly know who they -belonged to." - -The good Deacon was still beset with the idea of astonishing the boys -with a luxurious meal cooked by himself, without their aid, counsel or -assistance. His failure the first time only made him the more -determined. While he conceded that Si and Shorty did unusually well with -the materials at their command, he had his full share of the conceit -that possesses every man born of woman that, without any previous -training or experience, he can prepare food better than anybody else who -attempts to do it. It is usually conceded that there are three things -which every man alive believes he can do better than the one who is -engaged at it. These are: - -1. Telling a story; - -2. Poking a fire; - -3. Managing a woman. - -Cooking a meal should be made the fourth of this category. - -One day Si and Shorty went with the rest of Co. Q on fatigue duty on the -enormous fortifications, the building of which took up so much of the -Army of the Cumberland's energies during its stay around Murfreesboro' -from Jan. 3 to June 24, 1863. Rosecrans seemed suddenly seized with -McClellan's mania for spade work, and was piling up a large portion of -Middle Tennessee into parapet, bastion and casemate, lunet, curtain, -covered-way and gorge, according to the system of Vauban. The 200th Ind. -had to do its unwilling share of this, and Si and Shorty worked off some -of their superabundant220 energy with pick and shovel. They would come -back at night tired, muddy and mad. They would be ready to quarrel with -and abuse everybody and every thing from President Lincoln down to the -Commissary-Sergeant and the last issue of pickled beef and bread -especially the Commissary-Sergeant and the rations. The good Deacon -sorrowed over these manifestations. He was intensely loyal. He wanted to -see the soldiers satisfied with their officers and the provisions made -for their comfort. - -He would get up a good dinner for the boys, which would soothe their -ruffled tempers and make them more satisfied with their lot. - -He began a labored planning of the feast. He looked over the larder, and -found there pork, corned beef, potatoes, beans, coffee, brown sugar, and -hard tack. - -Deacon Klegg Looks over the Larder. 220 - -"Good, substantial vittles, that stick to the ribs," he muttered to -himself, "and I'll fix up a good mess o' them. But the boys ought to -have something of a treat once in a while, and I must think up some way -to give it to 'em." - -He pondered over the problem as he carefully cleaned the beans, and set -them to boiling in a kettle over the fire. He washed some potatoes to -put in the ashes and roast. But these were too common place viands. He -wanted something that would be luxurious. - -"I recollect," he said to himself finally, "seein' a little store, which -some feller 'd set up a little ways from here. It's a board shanty, and -I expect he's got a lots o' things in it that the boys'd like, for -there's nearly always a big crowd around it. I'll221 jest fasten up the -house, and walk over there while the beans is a-seethin', and see if I -can't pick up something real good to eat." - -He made his way through the crowd, which seemed to him to smell of -whisky, until he came to the shelf across the front, and took a look at -the222 stock. It seemed almost wholly made up of canned goods, and boxes -of half-Spanish cigars, and play ing-cards. - -"Don't seem to ba much of a store, after all," soliloquized the Deacon, -after he had surveyed the display. "Ain't a patchin' to Ol Taylor's. -Don't see anything very invitin' here. O, yes, here's a cheese. Say, -Mister, gi' me about four pounds o' that there cheese." - -"Plank down your $2 fust, ole man." responded the storekeeper. "This is -a cash store cash in advance every time. Short credits make long -friends. Hand me over your money, and I'll hand you over the cheese." - -"Land o' Goshen, four bits a pound for cheese," gasped the Deacon. "Why, -I kin git the best full-cream cheese at home for a bit a pound." - -"Why don't you buy your cheese at home, then, old man?" replied the -storekeeper. "You'd make money, if you didn't have to pay freight to -Murfreesboro'. Guess you don't know much about gettin' goods down to the -front. But I hain't no time to argy with you. If you don't want to buy, -step back, and make room for someone that does. Business is lively this -mornin'. Time is money. Small profits and quick returns, you know. No -time to fool with loafers who only look on and ask questions." - -"Strange way for a storekeeper to act," muttered the Deacon. "Must've -bin brung up in a Land Office. He couldn't keep store in Posey County a -week. They wouldn't stand his sass." Then aloud: "You may gi' me two -pounds o' cheese." - -"Well, why don't you plank down the rhino?" said223 the storekeeper -impatiently. "Put up your money fust, and then you'll git the goods. -This ain't no credit concern with a stay-law attachment. Cash in advance -saves bookkeeping." - -"Well, I declare," muttered the Deacon, as he fished a greenback out of -a leather pocketbook fastened with a long strap. "This is the first time -I ever had to pay for things before I got 'em." - -"Never went to a circus, then, old man, or run for office," replied the -storekeeper, and his humor was rewarded with a roar of laughter. -"Anything else? Speak quick or step back." - -"I'll take a can o' them preserved peaches and a quart jug o' that -genuine Injianny maple molasses," said the Deacon desperately, naming -two articles which seemed much in demand. - -"All right; $2 for the peaches, and $2 more for the molasses." - -"Sakes alive!" ejaculated the Deacon, producing the strapped pocketbook -again. "Five dollars gone, and precious little to show for it." - -He took his jug and his can, and started back to the cabin. A couple of -hundred yards away he met a squad of armed men marching toward the -store, under the command of a Lieutenant. He stepped to one side to let -them pass, but the Lieutenant halted them, and asked authoritatively: - -"What have you got there, sir?" - -"Jest some things I've been buyin' for the boys' dinner," answered the -Deacon. - -"Indeed! Very likely," remarked the Lieutenant sarcastically. He struck -the jug so sharply with his sword that it was broken, and the air was -filled224 with a powerful odor of whisky. The liquor splashed over the -Deacon's trousers and wet them through. The expression of anger on his -face gave way to one of horror. He had always been one of the most rigid -of Temperance men, and fairly loathed whisky in all shapes and uses. - -"Just as I supposed, you old vagabond," said the Lieutenant, -contemptuously. "Down here sneaking whisky into camp. We'll stop that -mighty sudden." - -He knocked the can of peaches out of the Deacon's arms and ran his sword -into it. A gush of whisky spurted out. The Sergeant took the package of -cheese away and broke it open, revealing a small flask of liquor. - -"The idea of a man of your age being engaged in such business," said the -Lieutenant indignantly. "You ought to be helping to keep the men of the -army sober, instead of corrupting them to their own great injury. You -are doing them more harm than the rebels." - -The Deacon was too astonished and angry to reply. Words utterly failed -him in such a crisis. - -"Take charge of him, Corporal," commanded the Lieutenant. "Put him in -the guard-house till tomorrow, when we'll drum him out of camp, with his -partner, who is running that store." - -The Corporal caught the Deacon by the arm roughly and pulled him into -the rear of the squad, which hurried toward the store. The crowd in -front had an inkling of what was coming. In a twinkling of an eye they -made a rush on the store, each man snatched a can or a jug, and began -bolting away as fast as his legs could carry him. - -The storekeeper ran out the back way, and tried to make his escape, but -the Sergeant of the provost squad threw down his musket and took after -him. The storekeeper ran fast, inspired by fear and the desire to save -his ill-gotten gains, but the Sergeant ran faster, and presently brought -him back, panting and trembling, to witness the demolition of his -property. The shanty was being torn down, each plank as it came off -being snatched up by the soldiers to carry off and add to their own -habitations. The "canned fruit" was being punched with bayonets, and the -jugs smashed by gun-butts. - -"You are a cheeky scoundrel," said the Lieutenant, addressing himself to -the storekeeper, "to come down here and try to run such a dead-fall -right in the middle of camp. But we'll cure you of any such ideas as -that. You'll find it won't pay at all to try such games on us. You'll go -to the guard house, and to-morrow we'll shave your head and drum you and -your partner there out of camp." - -"I ain't no partner o' his," protested the Deacon earnestly. "My name's -Josiah Klegg, o' Posey County, Injianny. I'm down here on a visit to my -son in the 200th Injianny Volunteer Infantry. I'm a Deacon in the -Baptist Church, and a Patriarch of the Sons o' Temperance. It'd be the -last thing in the world I'd do to sell whisky." - -"That story won't wash, old man," said the Lieutenant. "You were caught -in the act, with the goods in your possession, and trying to deceive -me." - -He turned away to order the squad forward. As they marched along the -storekeeper said to the Deacon:226 - -"I'm afraid they've got me dead to rights, old man, but you kin git out. -Just keep up your sanctimonious appearance and stick to your Deacon -story, and you'll git off. I know you. I've lived in Posey County -myself. I'm going to trust you. I've already made a clean big profit on -this venture, and I've got it right down in my pocket. In spite of all -they've spiled, I'd be nigh $500 ahead o' the game if I could git out o' -camp with what I've got in my sock. But they'll probably search me and -confiscate my wad for the hospital. You see, I've been through this -thing before. I'm goin' to pass my pile over to you to take keer of till -I'm through this rumpus. You play fair with me, an' I'll whack up with -you fair and square, dollar for dollar. If you don't I'll follow you for -years." - -"I wouldn't tech a dirty dollar of yours for the world," said the Deacon -indignantly; but this was lost on the storekeeper, who was watching the -Lieutenant. - -"Don't say a word," he whispered; "he's got his eye on us. There it is -in your overcoat pocket." - -In the meantime they had arrived at the guard house. The Sergeant -stepped back, took the store keeper roughly by the shoulders, and shoved -him up in front of a tall, magisterial-looking man wearing a Captain's -straps, who stood frowning before the door. - -"Search him," said the Captain briefly. - -The Sergeant went through the storekeeper's pockets with a deftness that -bespoke experience. He produced a small amount of money, some of it in -fractional currency and Confederate notes, a number227 of papers, a plug -of tobacco, and some other articles. He handed these to the Captain, who -hastily looked over them, handed back the tobacco and other things and -the small change. - -"Give these back to him," he said briefly. "Turn the rest of the money -over to the hospital fund. Where's our barber? Shave his head, call up -the fifers and drummers, and drum him out of camp at once. I haven't -time to waste on him." - -Before he had done speaking the guards had the storekeeper seated on a -log, and were shearing his hair. - -"General," shouted the Deacon. - -"That's a Cap'n, you fool," said one of the guards. - -"Captain, then," yelled the Deacon. - -"Who is that man?" said the Captain severely. - -"He's his partner," said the Lieutenant. - -"Serve him the same way," said the Captain shortly, turning to go. - -The Deacon's knees smote together. He, a Deacon of the Baptist Church, -and a man of stainless repute at home, to have his head shaved and -drummed out of camp. He would rather die at once. The guards had laid -hands on him. - -"Captain," he yelled again, "it's all a horrible mistake. I had nothin' -to do with this man." - -"Talk to the Lieutenant, there," said the Captain, moving off. "He will -attend to you." - -The Lieutenant was attentively watching the barbering operation. "Cut it -close closer yet," he admonished the barber. - -"Lieutenant! Lieutenant!" pleaded the Deacon, awkwardly saluting. - -"Stand back; I'll attend to you next," said the228 Lieutenant -impatiently. "Now, tie his hands behind him." - -The Lieutenant turned toward the Deacon, and the barber picked up his -shears and made a step in that direction. Just in the extremity of his -danger the Deacon caught sight of the Captain of Co. Q walking toward -Headquarters. - -"Capt. McGillicuddy! Capt. McGillicuddy! come here at once! Come quick!" -he called in a voice which had been trained to long-distance work on the -Wabash bottoms. - -Capt. McGillicuddy looked up, recognized the waving of the Deacon's -bandanna, and hastened thither. Fortunately he knew the Provost -officers; there were explanations all around, and profuse apologies, and -just as the fifes and drums struck up the "Rogue's March" behind the -luckless storekeeper, who had to step off in front of a line of leveled -bayonets, the Deacon walked away arm-in-arm with the Captain. - -"I'm not goin' to let go o' you till I'm safe back in our own place," he -said. "My gracious! think of havin' my head shaved and marched off the -way that feller's bein'." - -He walked into the cabin and stirred up the beans. - -"The water's biled off," said he to himself, "but they hain't been in -nigh as hot a place as I have. I guess the boys'll have to do with a -plain dinner to day. I'm not goin' to stir out o' this place agin unless -they're with me." - -He put his hand into his pocket for his bandanna and felt the roll of -bills, which he had altogether forgotten in his excitement. - -His face was a study. - - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. THE DEACON IS TROUBLED DISPOSES OF THE $500 "WHISKY" MONEY -AND GOES OUT FORAGING. - -FROM the door of the cabin the Deacon could see the fort on which the -boys were piling up endless cubic yards of the red soil of Tennessee. As -he watched them, with an occasional glance at the beans seething in the -kettle, fond memories rose of a woman far away on the Wabash, who these -many years had thought and labored for his comfort in their home, while -he labored within her sight on their farm. It was the first time in -their long married life that he had been away from her for such a length -of time. - -"I believe I'm gittin' real homesick to see Mariar," he said with a -sigh. "I'd give a good deal for a letter from her. I do hope everything -on the farm's all right. I think it is. I'm a little worried about Brown -Susy, the mare, but I think she'll pick up as the weather settles. I -hope her fool colt, that I've give Si, won't break his leg nor nothin' -while I'm away." - -Presently he saw the men quit work, and he turned to get ready for the -boys. He covered the rough table with newspapers to do duty for a cloth; -he had previously scoured up the tinware to its utmost brightness and -cleanliness, and while the boys were230 washing off the accumulations of -clay, and liberally denouncing the man who invented fort building, and -even West Point for educating men to pursue the nefarious art, he dished -out the smoking viands. - -"Upon my word, Pap," said Si, as he helped him self liberally, "you do -beat us cookin' all holler. Your beans taste almost as good as mother's. -We must git you to give us some lessons." - -"Yes; you're a boss cook," said Shorty, with his mouth full. "Better not -let Gen. Rosecrans find out how well you kin bile beans, or he'll have -you drafted, and keep you with him till the end o' the war." - -After supper they lighted their pipes and seated themselves in front of -the fire. - -"How'd you git along to-day, Pap," said Si. "I hope you didn't have no -trouble." - -The Deacon took his pipe out of his mouth, blew a cloud of smoke, and -considered a moment before replying. He did not want to recount his -experiences, at least, until he had digested them more thoroughly. He -was afraid of the joking of the boys, and still more that the story -would get back home. Then, he was still sorely perplexed about the -disposition of the money. He had not thought that out yet, by a great -deal. But the question was plump and direct, and concealment and untruth -were alike absolutely foreign to his nature. After a minute's pause he -decided to tell the whole story. - -"Well, boys," he began with a shamefaced look, "I had the flamboyantest -racket to-day I've had yit." - -The two boys took their pipes out and regarded him with surprise.231 - -"Yes," he continued, with a deep sigh, "it laid away over gittin' down -here, and my night in the guard-house, even. You see, after you went -away I began to think about gittin' up something a little extry for you -to eat. I thought about it for awhile, and then recollected seein' a -little grocery that'd been set up nigh here in a board shanty." - -"Yes, we know about it," said Shorty, exchanging a look with Si. - -"Well," continued the Deacon, "I concluded that I'd jest slip over -there, and mebbe I could find232 something that'd give variety to your -pork and beans. He didn't seem to have much but canned goods, and his -prices wuz jest awful. But I wuz de termined to git something, and I -finally bought a jug o' genuine Injianny maple molasses, a chunk o' -cheese and a can o' peaches. I had to pay $5 for it. He said he had to -charge high prices on account o' freight rates, and I remembered that I -had some trouble in gittin' things down here, and so I paid him. He wuz -very peart and sassy, and it was take-it-or-leave-it-and-be-plaguey- -quick-about-it all the time. But I paid my $5, gathered the things up, -and started back to the house. I hadn't got more'n 100 rods away when I -met one o' these officers with only one o' them things in his shoulder -straps." - -"A First Lieutenant," interjected Si. - -"Yes, they called him a Lieutenant. He spoke very bossy and cross to me, -and hit my jug a welt with his sword. He broke it, and what do you -suppose was in it?" - -Hit My Jug a Welt With his Sword 231 - -"Whisky," said Si and Shorty simultaneously, with a shout of laughter. - -"That's jest what it wuz. I wuz never so mortified in my life. I -couldn't say a word. The Lieutenant abused me for being a partner in -sellin' whisky to the soldiers me, Josiah Klegg, Patriarch of the Sons -o' Temperance, and a Deacon. While I wuz tryin' to tell him he jabbed -his sword into the can o' peaches, and what do you suppose was in that?" - -"Whisky," yelled Si and Shorty, with another burst of laughter. - -"That's jest what it wuz. Then one o' the Lieutenant's men jerked the -chunk o' cheese away and283 broke it open. And what do you suppose was -in that?" - -"Whisky, of course," yelled the boys in uncontrollable mirth. - -"That's jest what it was. I wuz so dumfounded that I couldn't say a -word. They yanked me around in behind the squad, and told me they'd -shave my head and drum me out o' camp. The Lieutenant took his men up to -the grocery and tore it down, and ketched the feller that wuz keepin' -it. They put him alongside o' me, and tuk us up to the guard house. On -the way he whispered to me that they wuz likely to salt him, 'cause they -knowed him, but I'd likely git off easy. He'd made $500 clean out o' the -business already, and had it in his clothes. He'd pass it over to me to -keep till the racket wuz over, when he'd divide fair and square with me. -I told him that I'd rather burn my hand off than tech a dirty dollar o' -his money, but he dropt it into my overcoat pocket all the same, and I -wuz so excited that I clean forgot about it, and brung it away with me. -When we got to the guard-house they tuk all the rest of his money away, -shaved his head, and drummed him out o' camp." - -"Yes, we saw that," answered Si; "but didn't pay no attention to it. -They're drummin' some feller out o' camp nearly every day, for something -or other." - -"I don't see that it does any good," said Shorty. "It'd be a heap better -to set 'em to work on the fortifications. That'd take the deviltry out -o' 'em." - -"When they'd got through with him," continued the Deacon, "they Burned -their attention to me. I234 never wuz so scared in all my born days. But -luckily, jest in the nick o' time, I ketched sight o' Capt. -McGillicuddy, and hollered to him. He come up and explained things, and -they let me go, with lots o' apologies. When I got back to the house, I -felt for my handkerchief, and found that scalawag's roll o' bills, which -I'd clean forgot. Here it is." - -'pulled out a Fat Roll of Greenbacks. 235 - -He pulled out a fat roll of crisp greenbacks. Si took them, thumbed them -over admiringly, counted them, and handed them to Shorty, who did the -same. - -"Yes, there's $500 there," said Si. "What are you goin' to do with it, -Pap?" - -"That's jest what's worrying the life out o' me," answered his father. -"By rights I ought to throw the condemned stuff into the fire, only I -hold it a great sin to destroy property of any kind." - -"What, burn all that good money up?" said Shorty with a whistle. "You -don't live in an insane asylum when you're at home, do you?" - -"'Twouldn't be right to burn it, Pap," said Si, who better understood -the rigidity of his father's principles. "It'd do a mighty sight o' good -somewhere." - -"The money don't belong at all to that feller," mused the Deacon. "A man -can't have no property in likker. It's wet damnation, hell's broth, to -nourish murderers, thieves, and paupers. It is the devil's essence, with -which he makes widows and orphans. Every dollar of it is minted with -women's tears and children's cries of hunger. That feller got the money -by violatin' the law on the one hand and swindling the soldiers on the -other, and corruptin' them to their ruin. To give the money back to him -would be rewardin' him for his rascality. It'd be like235 givin' a thief -his booty, or a burglar his plunder, and make me his pardner." - -"You're right there, Pap," assented Si. "You'd jest be settin' him up in -business in some other stand. Five hundred dollars'd give him a good -start. His hair'll soon grow agin." - -"The worst of it," sighed Shorty, "is that it ain't good likker. -Otherwise it'd be different. But it's pizener than milk-sick or loco- -weed. It's aqua-fortis, fish-berries, tobacco juice and ratsbane. That -stuff'd eat a hole in a tin pan."236 - -"The Captain turned the rest o' his money over to the hospital," -continued the Deacon. "I might do that." - -"Never do it in the world, Pap," protested Si. "Better burn it up at -once. It'd be the next worst thing to givin' it back to him. It'd jest -be pamperin' and encouragin' a lot o' galoots that lay around the -hospitals to keep out o' fights. None o' the wounded or really sick'd -git the benefit of a cent of it. They wuz all sent away weeks ago to -Nashville, Louisville, and back home. You jest ought to see that bummer -gang. Last week me and Shorty wuz on fatigue duty down by one o' the -hospitals. There wuzzent nobody in the hospital but a few 'shell-fever' -shirks, who're too lazy to work on the fortifications, and we saw a -crowd of civilians and men in uniform set down to a finer dinner than -you kin git in any hotel. Shorty wanted to light some shells and roll in -amongst 'em, but I knowed that it'd jest make a muss that we'd have to -clean up afterward." - -"But what am I going to do with it?" asked the Deacon despairingly. "I -don't want no money in my hands that don't belong to me, and especially -sich money as that, which seems to have a curse to every bill. If we -could only find out the men he tuk it from." - -"Be about as easy as drivin' a load o' hay back into the field, and -fitting each spear o' grass back on the stalk from which it was cut," -interjected Shorty. - -"Or I might send it anonymously to the Baptist Board o' Missions," -continued the Deacon. - -"Nice way to treat the little heathens," objected Si. "Send them likker -money."237 - -The Deacon groaned. - -"Tell you what we might do, Pap," said Si, as a bright idea struck him. -"There's a widder, a Union woman, jest outside the lines, whose house -wuz burned down by the rebels. She could build a splendid new house with -$100 better'n the one she wuz livin' in before. Send her $100. - -"Not a bad idee," said the Deacon approvingly, as he poked the ashes in -his pipe with his little finger. - -"And, Pap," continued Si, encouraged by the reception of this -suggestion, "there's poor Bill Ellerlee, who lost his leg in the fight. -He used to drink awful hard, and most of his money went down his throat. -He's got a wife and two small children, and they hain't a cent to live -on, except what the neighbors gives. Why not put up $200 in an express -pack age and send it to him, marked 'from an unknown friend?'" - -"Good," accorded the Deacon. - -"And Jim Pocock," put in Shorty, seeing the drift. "He's gone home with -a bullet through his breast. His folks are pretty poor. Why not send him -$100 the same way?" - -"Excellent idee," said the father. - -"That leaves $100 yit," said Si. "If you care to, you kin divide it -between Shorty and me, and we'll use it among the boys that got hurt, -and need some thing." - -A dubious look came into the Deacon's face. - -"You needn't be afeared of us, Pap," said Si, with a little blush. "I -kin promise you that we won't use a cent ourselves, but give every bit -where it is really needed."238 - -"I believe you, my son," said the Deacon heartily. "We'll do jest as you -say." - -They spent the evening carrying their plan into execution. - -At the 9 o'clock roll-call the Orderly-Sergeant announced: - -"Co. Q to go out with a forage-train to-morrow morning." - -This was joyful news a delightful variation from the toil on the -fortifications. "Taps" found every body getting his gun and traps ready -for an excursion into the country. - -"You'd like to go with us, Pap, wouldn't you?" asked Si, as he looked -over his cartridge-box to see what it contained. - -"Indeed I would," replied the father. "I'll go any where with you rather -than spend such another day in camp. You don't think you will see any -rebels, do you?" he asked rather nervously. - -"Don't know; never kin tell," said Shorty oracularly. "Rebels is -anywhere you find 'em. Sometimes they're seldomer than a chaw of -terbaker in a Sunday school. You can't find one in a whole County. Then, -the first thing you know, they're thicker'n fleas on a dog's back. But -we won't likely see no rebels to-morrow. There ain't no great passel o' -them this side o' Duck River. Still, we'll take our guns along, jest -like a man wears a breast-pin on a dark night, because he's used to it." - -"Can't you give me a gun, too? I think it'd be company for me," said the -Deacon. - -"Certainly," said Si. - -The Deacon stowed himself in the wagons with239 the rest the next -morning, and rode out with them through the bright sunshine, that gave -promise of the soon oncoming of Spring. For miles they jolted over the -execrable roads and through the shiftless, run-down country before they -found anything worth while putting in the wagons. - -"Great country, Pap," said Si suggestively. - -"Yes; it'd be a great country," said his father disdainfully, "if you -could put a wagonload o' manure on every foot and import some Injianny -men to take care of it. The water and the sunshine down here seem all -right, but the land and the people and the pigs and stock seem to be -cullin's throwed out when they made Injianny." - -At length the train halted by a double log house of much more -pretentious character than any they had so far seen. There were a couple -of well-filled corn-cribs, a large stack of fodder, and other evidences -of plenty. The Deacon's practiced eye noticed that there was no stock in -the fields, but Si explained this by saying that everything on hoofs had -been driven off to supply the rebel army. "They're now trying to git a -corn-crib and a fodder-stack with four legs, but hain't succeeded so -far." - -The Captain ordered the fence thrown down and the wagons driven in to be -filled. The surrounding horizon was scanned for signs of rebels, but -none appeared anywhere. The landscape was as tranquil, as peace- -breathing as a Spring morning on the Wabash, and the Deacon's mind -reverted to the condition of things on his farm. It was too wet to plow, -but he would like to take a walk over the fields and see how his wheat -had come out, and look over the240 peach-buds and ascertain how they had -stood the Winter. He noticed how some service-trees had already unfolded -their white petals, like flags of truce breaking the long array of green -cedars and rusty-brown oaks. - -The company stacked arms in the road, the Captain went to direct the -filling of the wagons, and Si and Shorty started on a private -reconnoissance for something for their larder. - -The Deacon strolled around the yard for awhile inspecting the buildings -and farm implements with an eye of professional curiosity, and arrived -at very unfavorable opinions. He then walked up on the porch of the -house, where a woman of about his own age sat in a split-bottom rocking- -chair knitting and viewing the proceedings with frowning eyes. - -"Good day, ma'am," said he. "Warm day, ma'am." - -"'Tain't as warm as it orter to be for sich fellers as yo'uns," she -snapped. "You'd better be in the brimstone pit if you had your just -deserts." - -The Deacon always tried to be good-humored with an angry woman, and he -thought he would try the effect of a little pleasantry. "I'm a Baptist, -ma'am, and they say us Baptists are tryin' to put out that fire with -cold water." - -"You a Babtist?" she answered scornfully. "The hot place is full o' jest -sich Babtists as yo'uns air, and they're making room for more. We'uns -air Babtists ourselves, but, thank the Lord, not o' your kind. Babtists -air honest people. Babtists don't go about the country robbin' and -murderin' and stealin' folks' corn. Don't tell me you air a Babtist,241 -for I know you air a-lyin', and that's the next thing to killin' and -stealin'." - -"But I am a Baptist," persisted the Deacon, "and have bin for 30 year -regular, free-will, close-communion, total-immersion Baptist. We have -some Campbellites, a few Six Principle Baptists, and some Hard Shells, -but the heft of us air jest plain, straight-out Baptists. But, speakin' -o' cold water, kin you give me a drink? I'm powerful dry." - -"Thar's water down in the crick, thar," she said, with a motion of her -knitting in that direction. "It's as fur for me as it is for you. Go -down thar and drink all you like. Lucky you can't carry the crick away -with yo'uns. Yo'uns 'd steal it if yo'uns could." - -"You don't seem to be in a good humor, ma'am," said the Deacon, -maintaining his pleasant demeanor and tone. - -"Well, if you think that a passel o' nasty Yankees is kalkerlated to put -a lady in a good humor you're even a bigger fool than you look. But I -hain't no time to waste jawin' you. If you want a drink thar's the -crick. Go and drink your fill of it. I only wish it was a's'nic, to -pizen you and your whole army." - -She suddenly stopped knitting, and bent her eyes eagerly on an opening -in the woods on a hill-top whence the road wound down to the house. The -Deacon's eyes followed hers, and he saw unmistakable signs of men in -butternut clothes. The woman saw that he noticed them, and her manner -changed. - -"Come inside the house," she said pleasantly, "and I'll git you a -gourdful of water fresh from the spring."242 - -"Thankee, ma'am; I don't feel a bit dry," answered the Deacon, with his -eyes fastened on the hill top. "Si, Shorty, Capt. McGillicuddy," he -yelled. - -"Shet your head, and come into the house this minit, you nasty Yankee, -or I'll slash your fool head off," ordered the woman, picking up a corn- -cutter the advantage of his position and ran up to him. - -The Deacon was inside the railing around the porch, and he had not -jumped a fence for 20 years. But he cleared the railing as neatly as Si -could have done it, and ran bareheaded down the road, yelling at the top -of his voice. - -He was not a minute too soon not soon enough. A full company of rebel -cavalry came dashing out of the woods, yelling like demons. - -Without waiting to form, the men of Co. Q ran to their guns and began -firing from fence-corners and behind trees. Capt. McGillicuddy took the -first squad that he came to, and, running forward a little way, made a -hasty line and opened fire. Others saw the advantage of his position and -ran up to him. - -The Deacon snatched up a gun and joined the Captain. - -"I never wuz subject to the 'buck fever,'" he muttered to himself, "and -I won't allow myself to be now. I remember jest how Gineral Jackson told -his men to shoot down to New Orleans. I'm going to salt one o' them -fellers as sure as my name's Josiah Klegg." - -He took a long breath, to steady himself, as he joined the Captain, -picked out a man on a bay horse that seemed to be the rebels' Captain, -and caught his breast fully through the hindsight before he243 pulled -the trigger. Through the smoke he saw his man tumble from his horse. - -"Got him, anyway," he muttered; "now, how in the world kin I load this -plaguey gun agin?" - -At that instant a rebel bullet bit out a piece of his ear, but he paid -no attention to it. - -"Gi' me that cartridge," he said to the man next to him, who had just -bitten off the end of one; "I can't do it." - -The man handed him the cartridge, which the Deacon rammed home, but -before he could find a cap the fight was over, and the rebels were seek -ing the shelter of the woods. - -The Deacon managed to get a cap on his gun in time to take a long- -distance, ineffective shot at the rebels as they disappeared in the -woods. - -They hastily buried one rebel who had been killed, and picked up those -who had been wounded and carried them into the house, where they were -made as comfortable as possible. Among them was the man whom the Deacon -had aimed at. He was found to have a wound through the fleshy part of -his hip, and proved to be the son of the woman of the house. - -As soon as the fight was over, Si, full of solicitude, sought his -father. He found him wiping the blood from his ear with his bandanna. - -"It's nothin', son; absolutely nothin'," said the old gentleman with as -much pride as any recruit. "Don't hurt as much as a scratch from a -briar. Some feller what couldn't write put his mark on me so's he'd know -me agin. But I fetched that feller on the bay hoss. I'm glad I didn't -kill him, but he'll keep out o' devilment for sometime. - - - - - -CHAPTER XX. THE DEACON BUTTS IN ENFORCES THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION. - -"PAP," said Si, as they were riding back, comfortably seated on a load -of corn-fodder, "now that it's all over, I'm awfully scared about you. I -can't forgive myself for runnin' you up agin such a scrape. I hadn't no -idee that there wuz a rebel in the whole County. If anything had -happened you it'd just killed mother and the girls, and then I'd never -rested till I got shot myself, for I wouldn't wanted to live a minute." - -"Pshaw, my son," responded his father rather testily; "you ain't my -guardeen, and I hope it'll be a good many years yit before you are. I'm -mighty glad that I went. There was something Providential in it. I'm a -good deal of a Quaker. I believe in the movin's of the spirit. The -spirit moved me very strongly to go with you, and I now see the purpose -in it. If I hadn't, them fellers might've got the bulge on you. I seen -them before any o' you did, and I fetched down their head devil, and I -feel that I helped you a good deal." - -"Indeed you did," said Shorty earnestly. "You ought to have a brevet for -your 'conspicuous gallantry in action.' I think the Colonel will give -you one. You put an ounce o' lead to particularly good245 use in that -feller's karkiss. I only wish it'd bin a little higher up, where it'd a -measured him for a wooden overcoat." - -"I'm awful glad I hit him jest where I did," responded the Deacon. "I -did have his heart covered with my sights, and then I pulled down a -little. He was pizen, I know; but I wanted to give him a chance to -repent." - -"He'll repent a heap," said Shorty incredulously. "He'll lay around the -house for the next six months, studyin' up new deviltry, and what he -can't think of that secesh mother o' his'll put him up to. Co. Q, and -particularly the Hoosier's Rest, is the only place you'll find a -contrite heart and a Christian spirit cultivated." - -"That reminds me," said Si; "we hain't licked the Wagonmaster yit for -throwin' cartridges down our chimbley." - -"Blamed if that ain't so," said Shorty. "I knowed I'd forgotten some -little thing. It's bin hauntin' my mind for days. I'll jest tie a knot -in my handker chief to remember that I must tend to that as soon's we -git back." - -"I'm quite sure that I don't want another sich a tussle," meditated the -Deacon. "I never heerd any thing sound so murderin' wicked as them -bullets. A painter's screech on a dark night or a rattler's rattle -wuzzent to be compared to 'em. It makes my blood run cold to think o' -'em. Then, if that feller that shot at me had wobbled his gun a little -to the left, Josiah Klegg's name would 've bin sculped on a slab o' -white marble, and Maria would 've bin the Widder Klegg. I wish the war -wuz over, and Si and Shorty246 safe at home. But their giddy young pates -are so full o' dumbed nonsense that there hain't no room for scare. But, -now that I'm safe through it, I wouldn't 've missed it for the best cow -on my place. After all, Providence sends men where they are needed, and -He certainly sent me out there. - -"Then, I'll have a good story to tell the brethren and sisters some -night after prayer meetin's over. It'll completely offset that story -'bout my comin' so near gittin' my head shaved. How the ungodly247 -rapscallions would've gloated over Deacon Klegg's havin' his head shaved -an' bein' drummed out o' camp. That thing makes me shiver worse'n the -whistlin' o' them awful bullets. But they can't say nothin' now. Deacon -Klegg's bin a credit to the church." - -They were nearing camp. The Captain of Co. Q ordered: - -"Corporal Klegg, take your wagon up that right-hand road to the -Quartermaster's corral of mules, and bring me a receipt for it." - -Si turned the wagon off, and had gone but a few hundred yards, when he -and Shorty saw a house at a little distance, which seemed to promise to -furnish something eatable. He and Shorty jumped off and cut across the -fields toward it, telling the Deacon they would rejoin him before he -reached the picket-line, a mile or so ahead. - -The Deacon jogged on, musing intently of the stirring events of the day, -until he was recalled to the things immediately around him by hearing a -loud voice shout: - -"Stop, there, you black scoundrel! I've ketched ye. I'm gwine to blow -your onery head off." - -He looked up and saw a man about his own age, dressed in butternut -homespun, and riding a fine horse. He wore a broad-brimmed slouch hat, -his clean-shaven face was cold and cruel, and he had leveled a double- -barreled shotgun on a fine-looking negro, who had leaped over from the -field into the middle of the road, and was standing there regard ing him -with a look of intense disappointment and248 fear. - -I'm Gwine Ter Kill Ye, Right Here 246 - -"You devil's ape," continued the white man, with a torrent of profanity, -"I've ketched ye jest in the nick o' time. Ye wuz makin' for the Yankee -camp, and 'd almost got thar. Ye thought yer 40 acres and a mule wuz -jest in sight, did ye? Mebbe ye reckoned y'd git a white wife, and be an -officer in the Yankee army. I'm gwine to kill ye, right here, to stop -yer deviltry, and skeer off others that air o' the same mind." - -"Pray God, don't kill me, massa," begged the negro. "I hain't done -nuffin' to be killed foh." - -"Hain't done nothin' to be killed for!" shouted the white man, with more -oaths. "Do ye call sneakin' off to jine the enemy and settin' an example -to the other niggers nothin'? Git down on yer knees and say yer prayers, -if ye know any, for ye ain't a minnit to live." - -The trembling negro dropped to his knees and be gan mumbling his -prayers. - -"What's the matter here?" asked the Deacon of the teamster. - -"O, some man's ketched his nigger tryin' to run away to our lines, an's -goin' to kill him," answered the teamster indifferently. - -"Goin' to kill him," gasped the Deacon. "Are we goin' to 'low that?" - -"'Tain't none o' my business," said the teamster coolly. "It's his -nigger; I reckon he's a right to do as he pleases." - -"I don't reckon nothin' o' the kind," said the Deacon indignantly. "I -won't stand and see it done." - -"Better not mix in," admonished the teamster. "Them air Southerners is -pretty savage folks, and249 don't like any meddlin' twixt them and their -niggers. What's a nigger, anyway?" - -"Amounts to about as much as a white-livered teamster," said the Deacon -hotly. "I'm goin' to mix in. I'll not see any man murdered while I'm -around. Say, you," to the white man; "what are you goin' ter do with -that man?" - -"Mind yer own bizniss," replied the white man, after a casual glance at -the Deacon, and seeing that he did not wear a uniform. "Keep yer mouth -shet if ye know when y're well off." - -"O, massa, save me! save me!" said the negro, jumping up and running -toward the Deacon, who had slipped down from the fodder, and was -standing in the road. - -"All right, Sambo; don't be scared. He sha'n't kill you while I'm -around," said the Deacon. - -"I tell ye agin to mind yer own bizniss and keep yer mouth shet," said -the white man savagely. "Who air ye, anyway? One o' them sblinkin' -nigger-stealin' Abolitionists, comin' down here to rob us Southerners of -our property?" - -He followed this with a torrent of profane denunciation of the "whole -Abolition crew." - -"Look here, Mister," said the Deacon calmly, reaching back into the -wagon and drawing out a musket, "I'm a member o' the church and a -peaceable man. But I don't 'low no man to call me names, and I object to -swearin' of all kinds. I want to argy this question with you, quietly, -as between man and man." - -He looked down to see if there was a cap on the gun.250 - -"What's the trouble 'twixt you and this man here?" - -"That ain't no man," said the other hotly. "That's my nigger bought with -my money. He's my property. I've ketched him tryin' to run away tryin' -to rob me of $1,200 worth o' property and give it to our enemies. I'm -gwine to kill him to stop others from doin' the same thing." - -"Indeed you're not," said the Deacon, putting his thumb on the hammer. - -"Do you mean to say you'll stop me?" said the master, starting to raise -his shotgun, which he had let fall a little. - -"Something like that, if not the exact words," an swered the Deacon -calmly, looking at the sights of the musket with an interested air. - -The master resumed his volley of epithets. - -The Deacon's face became very rigid, and the musket was advanced to a -more threatening position. "I told you before," he said, "that I didn't -allow no man to call me sich names. I give you warnin' agin. I'm liable -to fall from grace, as the Methodists say, any minnit. I'm dumbed sure -to if you call me an other name." - -The master glared at the musket. It was clearly in hands used to guns, -and the face behind it was not that of a man to be fooled with beyond a -certain limit. He lowered his shotgun, and spoke sharply to the negro: - -"Sam, git 'round here in front of the hoss, and put for home at once." - -"Stay where you are, till I finish talkin' to this man," commanded the -Deacon. "Are you a loyal man?" he inquired of the master.251 - -"If ye mean loil to that rail-splittin' gorilla in Washington," replied -the master, hotly; "to that low-down, nigger-lovin', nigger-stealin'—" - -"Shet right up," said the Deacon, bringing up his gun in a flash of -anger. "You sha'n't abuse the President o' the United States any more'n -you shall me, nor half so much. He's your President, whom you must honor -and respect. I won't have him blackguarded by an unhung rebel. You say -yourself you're a rebel. Then you have no right whatever to this man, -and I'm goin' to confiscate him in the name o' Abraham Lincoln, -President o' the United States, an' accordin' to his proclamation of -emancipation, done at Washington, District o' Columbia, in the year of -our Lord eighteen hundred and sixty-three and of our Independence the -87th. - -"Now, you jest turn your hoss around and vacate these parts as quick as -you can, and leave me and this colored man alone. We're tired o' havin' -you 'round." - -The master was a man of sense. He knew that there was nothing to do but -obey. - - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. THE PERPLEXED DEACON TROUBLED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THE -FREEDMAN. - -"WHAT is yer a-gwine tub do wid me, mas'r?" asked the negro, with a look -and an attitude curiously like a forlorn stray dog which had at last -found an owner and protector. - -"Wish to gracious I knowed," answered the Deacon, knitting his brows in -thought. "I don't know as I've anything to do with you. I've about as -much idee what to do with you as I would with a whale in the Wabash -River. I'm neither John Brown nor a colonization society. I've about as -much use for a nigger, free or slave, as a frog has for a tail. You're -free now that's all there is of it. Nobody's got nothin' to do with you. -You've got to do with yourself that's all. You're your own master. You -go your way and let other folks go theirs." - -In the simplicity of his heart the Deacon thought he had covered the -whole ground. What more could the man want, who had youth, health and -strength, than perfect liberty to go where he pleased and strive for -what he wanted? - -The negro looked dazed and perplexed. - -"Isn't yo' a-gwine tuh take me wid yo', mas'r?" he asked. - -"Take you with me!" repeated the Deacon in253 astonishment and some -petulance. "Certainly not. I don't want you. And you mustn't call me -master. You mustn't call any man master. You're no longer a slave. -You're your own master. You're free; don't you understand?" - -"But whah'm I tuh go?" reiterated the negro hopelessly. - -"Go where you please," repeated the Deacon with impatience. "The whole -world's open to you. Go to the next County; go to Kaintucky, Injianny, -Ohio, Illinoy, Kamskatky, New Guiney, Jericho, or Polkinhorn's tanyard -if you like." - -"Afo' God, I don't know what tuh do, or wha tuh go," said the negro -despairingly. "If yo' leab me here, I know dat ole mas'r 'll fin' me an' -done kill me daid." - -"Niggers is like mules," remarked Groundhog savagely. "They only know -two places in the whole world: their master's place and somewhere else. -They want to run away from their master, but they hain't nary idee whar -to go when they run away. A hoss has more sense 'n either a nigger or a -mule. When he lights out he's got some idee o' where he wants t' go. I -tell you; jest give that nigger to me. I know what to do with him. I -know a man that'll give me $100 for him, and I'll whack up fair and -square with you." - -"Shut up, you mullet-headed mule-whacker," said the Deacon irritably. -"You hain't got sense enough to take care o' mules right, let alone a -man. I wouldn't trust you an hour with the poorest team on my place. -I'll take care o' this man myself, at least, until I kin have a talk -with the boys. Here, you nigger, what's your name?"254 - -"Dey call me Sam, mas'r," replied the negro. - -"Well, we'll change that. You're a free man, and I'll give you another -name. I'm goin' to call you Abraham—Abraham Lincoln the grandest name in -the world to-day. For short I'll call you Abe. You must stop callin' me, -or anybody, master, I tell you. You just call be Mister Klegg." - -"Mistuh what?" said the negro, puzzled. - -"Well, jest call me boss. Now, Abe, climb up into the wagon here, and -come along with me."255 - -"He can't git into no wagon o' mine," said the teamster surlily. -"Government wagons ain't no passenger coaches for runaway niggers. I -didn't hire to haul niggers on pleasure excursions. That ain't no part -of a white man's bizniss. Let him walk alongside." - -"You dumbed citizen," said the Deacon angrily. He had been in camp long -enough to catch the feeling of the men toward the Quartermaster's -civilian employees. "This man shall ride in this wagon along side o' me, -and you'll drive us into camp, or I'll find out the reason why. Now jest -gether up your lines and start." - -"I won't take no slack from no old Wabash hayseed like you," responded -the teamster cordially. "You can't boss me. You hain't no right. You -can't ring me in to help you steal niggers, unless you divide with me. -You come out here in the road and I'll punch that old sorrel-top head o' -your'n." - -And the teamster pranced out and brandished his blacksnake whip -menacingly. - -It had been many years since anybody on the Wabash had dared Deacon -Klegg to a match in fisticuffs. The memory of some youthful performances -of his had secured him respectful immunity. His last affair had been a -severe suppression of a noted bully who attempted to "crowd the -mourners" at a camp-meeting for the good order of which the Deacon felt -himself somewhat responsible. It took the bully six months to get over -it, and he went to the mourner's bench himself at the next revival. - -The Deacon looked at the gesticulating teamster a minute, and the -dormant impulse of his youth256 stirred again within him. He laid his -gun down and calmly slid from the fodder to the ground. He pulled off -his coat and hat, and laid them on the wagon. He took the quid of -tobacco from his mouth, carefully selected a place for it on the edge of -the wagon-bed, laid it there on a piece of corn-husk, and walked toward -the teamster, rolling up his sleeves. - -The effect upon the monarch of the mules was immediate and marked. He -stopped prancing around, and began to look alarmed. - -"Now, don't you hit me," he yelled. "I'm the driver o' this team, and in -Gov'ment employ. If you hit me I'll have you courtmartialed." - -Do You Hear? Git on Your Mule at Onct.' - -"I'm not goin' to hit you," said the Deacon, raising a fist as big as a -small ham, "if you behave yourself. I want you to shut your mouth, and -git on your mule and start for camp. If you don't 'tend to your bizness, -or give me any more o' your sass, I'll pound the melt out o' you. D' you -hear? Git on your mule at onct." - - - -frontispiecee (114K) - -The teamster did as he was bid, and drove on till they came up to where -the boys were sitting on a fence-corner waiting for them. - -Si had a brace of chickens tied together by the feet, and Shorty a crock -of honey in the comb, with a bag of saleratus biscuits and one of -cornmeal, and a number of strings of dried apples. - -"Bin waitin' for you a good while, Pap. What kep' you so long? Break- -down?" said Si. - -"No; had to stop and argy the fugitive slave law with a Southern -gentleman, and then debate niggers' civil rights with the teamster," -said the Deacon. Then he told them the story. "Here's the257 darky," he -said, as he concluded. "Seems to be a purty fair sort of a farm-hand, if -he has sense enough to come in when it rains, which I misdoubt. What are -we goin' to do with him?" - -"Do with him?" said Shorty. "Do everything with him. Take him into camp -first. Hire him out to the Quartermaster. Let him wait on the Captain. -Take him back home with you to help on the farm while Si's away. -Jehosephat, a big buck like that's a mighty handy thing to have about -the house. You kin learn him more tricks in a week than he'd learn with -his owner in a lifetime. Say, boy, what's your name?" - -"S s-s," the negro began to say, but he caught the Deacon's eye upon -him, and responded promptly, "Abr'm Lincoln." - -"I believe the nigger kin be taught," thought the Deacon. "Probably -this's some more o' Providence's workin's. Mebbe He brung this about -jest to give me my share o' the work o' raisin' the fallen race." - -"Boys," said he, "I'm glad you've got something good to eat there. Them -chickens seem tol'ble young and fat. I hope you came by 'em honestly." - -"Well, Pap," chuckled Si, "I don't know as a man who's been runnin' -around for another man's nigger, and got him, is jest in shape to ask -questions how other men got chickens and things; but I'll relieve your -mind by sayin' that we came honestly by 'em." - -"Yes; thought it would be interestin' to try that way once, for a -change," said Shorty. "Besides, it wuz too near camp for any -hornswogglin'. These fellers right around camp are gettin' on to the -names258 o' the regiments. They're learnin' to notice 200th Ind. on our -caps, and' foller you right into camp, and go up to the Colonel. We're -layin' altogether too long in one place. The Army o' the Cumberland -oughter move." - -"We paid full value, C. O. D.," added Si, "and not in Drake's Plantation -Bitters labels nor in busted Kalamazoo bank notes, neither. I think -fellers that pass patent-medicine labels and business-college -advertisements on these folks for money, oughter to be tied up by the -thumbs. It's mean." - -"That's what I say, too," added Shorty, with virtuous indignation. -"'Specially when you kin git the best kind o' Confederit money from -Cincinnati for two cents on the dollar. I always lay in enough o' that -to do my tradin' with." - -"What's that? What's that?" gasped the Deacon. "Passin' Confederate -money that you buy in Cincinnati at two cents on the dollar? Why, that's -counterfeitin'." - -"That's drawin' it a little too fine," said Shorty argumentatively. -"These flabbergasted fools won't take greenbacks. I offered the woman -to-day some, and she said she wouldn't be found dead with 'em. She -wanted Confedrit money. You may call it counterfeitin', but the whole -Southern Confederacy is counterfeit, from its President down to the -lowest Corporil. A dollar or two more or less won't make no difference. -This feller at Cincinnati has got just as much right to print notes as -they have in Richmond." - -"He prints 'em on better paper, his pictures are better, and he sells -his notes much cheaper, and I259 don't see why I shouldn't buy o' him -rather than o' them. I believe in patronizin' home industry." - -"Si," said his father, in horrified tones, "I hope you hain't bin -passin' none o' the Cincinnati Confederate money on these people." - -"I hope not, Pap. But then, you know, I ain't no bank-note detector. I -can't tell the Cincinnati kind from the Richmond kind, and I never try -very hard. All Confedrt money's alike to me, and I guess in the end -it'll be to them. Both kinds say they'll be paid six months after the -conclusion of peace be twixt the Confederate States and the United -States, and I guess one stands jest as good show as the other. The woman -asked me $2 apiece for these chickens, and I paid her in the Confedrit -money I happened to have in my pocket. I didn't notice whether it wuz -printed in Cincinnati or Richmond. I got it from one o' the boys playin' -p——. I mean he paid it to see me." He gave Shorty a furtive kick and -whispered: "Come mighty nigh givin' my self away that time." - -There was a long hill just before they came in sight of the entrance to -the camp, and they got out and helped the mules up. They walked on ahead -until they came to the top. The Deacon looked at the entrance, and said: - -"I declare, if there isn't that owner o' this nigger waitin' for us." - -"That so?" said Si, turning his eyes in that direction. "And he's got -some officers with him. There's some officers jest mean enough to help -these rebels ketch their niggers. I'd like to knock their addled heads -off."260 - -"Jest wait till we git discharged, Si, and then we kin lick 'em as much -as we want to," said Shorty. "But we've got to do somethin' now. They -can't see us yit. Deacon, jest take yer nigger and cut down around -through the crick there until you come to the picket-line. Then wait. Me -and Si'll go on in, and come around and find you." - -"All right," assented the Deacon, who was falling into camp ways with -remarkable facility. "But you've got to look out for that teamster. He's -meaner'n dog-fennel. He'll tell everything." - -"Good point," said Si. "We must 'tend to him. See here, Groundhog," he -continued, walking back to the teamster; "you don't know nothin' about -that old man and nigger that got on your wagon. They slipped off into -the woods when you wuzn't lookin', while you wuz busy with your mules, -and you don't know whether they went to the right or to the left, up the -road or down it." - -"Do you s'pose I'm goin' to help steal a nigger, and then lie about it -to the officers, for you galoots, and all for nothin'?" said the -teamster. "You are blamed fools, that's all I've got to say." - -"Look here, Groundhog," said Shorty, coming up close, with a portentious -doubled fist. "You know me, and you know Si. You know that either of us -can maul the head off you in a minute, whenever we've a mind to, and -we're likely any time to have a mind to. We're a durned sight nearer you -all the time than any o' the officers, and you can't git away from us, -though you may from them. They may buck and gag you, as they ought to, -'bout every day, but that won't be nothin' to the welting one of us -'ll261 give you. Now, you tell that story, jest as Si said, and stick to -it, or you won't have a whole bone in your carcass by the end o' the -week." - -When they came up to the entrance there indeed stood the owner of -Abraham Lincoln, holding his horse, and by him stood the Lieutenant- -Colonel of the 200th Ind., a big, burly man, who had been a drover and -an influential politician before he got his commission, and had a high -reputation at home as a rough-and-tumble fighter. He had not added to -his bellicose fame since entering the field, because for some mysterious -reason he had been absent every time the regiment went into a fight, or -was likely to. Consequently he was all the more blustering and -domineering in camp, in spite of the frequent repressions he got from -the modest, quiet little Colonel. - -"Old Blowhard Billings is there," said Si. "Now we'll have a gust o' -wind." - -"Didn't know he was in camp," said Shorty. "I've a notion to bust a cap -and scare him back to Nashville agin. Don't let him bluff you, Si, even -if he is the Lieutenant-Colonel." - -They rode up to the entrance looking as innocent and placid as if -bringing in a load from the fields on the Wabash. - -"Corporal Klegg," said the Lieutenant-Colonel sternly, "bring out that -nigger from the wagon." - -"We ain't got no nigger in the wagon, Colonel," said Si, with an -expression of surprise. - -"Come, now, don't fool with me, sir, or I'll make you very sorry for it. -I'm no man to be trifled with, sir. If you ain't got a nigger in the -wagon, what 've you done with him."262 - -"We ain't done nothin' with him, Colonel," persisted Si. "I hain't had -nothin' to do with no nigger since we started out this mornin'; hain't -spoken to one. Sometimes niggers jump on our wagons, ride a little ways, -and then jump off agin. I can't keep track of 'em. I generally make 'em -git off when I notice 'em." - -"Corporal Klegg, you're lyin' to me," said the Lieutenant-Colonel -roughly. "I'll settle with you directly. Groundhog, have you got a -nigger in the wagon?" - -"No, sir," replied the teamster. - -"Didn't you have' one?" - -Groundhog looked up and caught Shorty's eye fixed unflinchingly on him. - -"I b'lieve that one did git on," he stammered, "but he got off agin -d'rectly. I didn't notice much about him. My mules wuz very bothersome -all the time. They're the durndest meanest mules that ever a man tried -to drive. That there off-swing mule'd—" - -"We don't want to hear nothin' about your mules. We'll look in the wagon -ourselves." - -The search developed nothing. The Lieutenant-Colonel came back to Si, -angrier than ever. - -"Look here, Klegg, you're foolin' me, an' I won't stand it. I'll have -the truth out o' you if I have to kill you. Understand?" - -There was a dangerous gleam in Si's and Shorty's eyes, but they kept -their lips tightly closed. - -"This gentleman here," continued the Lieutenant-Colonel, "says, and I -believe his story, against all that you may say, that the men with this -wagon, which he's bin watchin' all along, took his nigger263 away from -him and drove him off with insults and curses. They threatened his life. -He says he can't reckonize either of you, and likely you have disguised -yourselves. But he reckonizes the wagon and the teamster, and is willin' -to swear to 'em. I know he's tellin' the truth, because I know you -fellers. You're impudent and sassy. You've bin among them that's -hollered at me. You've bin stealin' other things besides niggers to-day, -and have 'em in your possession. You're loaded down with things you've -stolen from houses. I won't command a regiment of nigger-thieves. I -won't have nigger-thieves in my regiment. If I've got any in my regiment -I'll break 'em of it, or I'll break their infernal necks. I believe you -fellers got away with that nigger, and I'll tie you up by the thumbs -till I get the truth out o' you. Sergeant o' the guard, take charge o' -these men, and bring 'em along. Take that stuff that they've stolen away -from them and send it to my tent." - -Si and Shorty got very white about the mouth, but Si merely said, as -they handed their guns to the guard: - -"Colonel, you may tie us up till doomsday, but you'll git no help out of -us to ketch runaway niggers and put 'em back in slavery." - -"Shut up, you scalawag," roared the Lieutenant-Colonel. "If I hear -another word out o' you I'll buck-and-gag you." - -They marched to Regimental Headquarters and halted, and the Lieutenant- -Colonel renewed his browbeating, Si and Shorty continued obstinate, and -the Lieutenant-Colonel, getting angrier every minute,264 ordered them -tied up by the thumbs. While the Sergeant of the Guard, who was a friend -of the boys, and had little heart for the work, was dallying with his -preparations, the Colonel himself appeared on the scene. - -"Ah, Colonel, you've got back, have you?" said the Lieutenant-Colonel, -little pleased at the interruption. "I've just caught two of the men in -a little job o' nigger-stealin', and I was about to learn them265 a -lesson which will break them of the habit. With your consent I'll go on -with the work." - -"Nigger-stealing?" said the Colonel quietly. "You mean helping a slave -to get away? Did you learn whether the owner was a loyal man?" - -"I don't know as that makes any difference," replied 'the Lieutenant- -Colonel surlily. "As a matter of fact, I believe he said he had two sons -in the rebel army." - -'i'll Invite Your Attention to the Emancipation Proclamation 264 ' - -"Well, Colonel," said the other, "I'll invite your attention to the -Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln, and the orders from the -War Department, which prohibit the return of slaves to disloyal owners, -and make it the duty of officers and men to assist in their escape. You -had better dismiss the men to their quarters." - -"If that's the case if I don't resign. I'm no - -"Abolitionist. I didn't come into the army to free the niggers." - -"I shall take pleasure in forwarding your resignation with a -recommendation of its acceptance for the good of the service," said the -Colonel calmly. - -"Men, go to your quarters." - -"Altogether, Pap, I consider this a mighty good day's work," remarked Si -that evening after supper, as they sat around the fire smoking, with -Abraham Lincoln snoring vigorously on the floor, in his first night's -sleep as a free man. - - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. TRYING TO EDUCATE ABRAHAM LINCOLN TOO HIGH-PRESSURE -SCHOOLING—THE BOYS ON PICKET. - -ALL THREE of the men at once became guardians of Abraham Lincoln, and in -their several ways heartily interested in his welfare. - -The Deacon was fired by the missionary spirit of his kind and class. - -"No use talkin' no more about the heathen 'On Greenland's icy -mountains,' or any place else," he communed with himself that evening, -as he sat and smoked, and occasionally glanced at the ebon face of the -sleeper in the corner. "Providence has cut out a job for me, and sent it -home. Rather, He sent me where I couldn't help stumblin' upon it, and -reckonizin' it. The responsibility to Him is clear. I've got heathen -enough to last me for a 'coon's age, to lift that poor, ignorant soul -up, and bring it to a knowledge of Christian ways. He's not nice nor -purty; never heard of a pagan that wuz. Wouldn't be pagans if they wuz. -But he's a man and a brother, and the Bible says that I'm my brother's -keeper. I'll keep him agin fifty-'leven o' that old snortin' rebel and -Copperhead Blowhard Billings. I wuzzent brung up in the woods to be -scared by the hootin' of an owl." - -"We might take him along with us, Si," said Shorty, in a low tone, with -a nod toward Abraham267 Lincoln. "We could make a bully cook out of him. -We could have no end of fun with him. We could learn him lots o' tricks. -He's as strong as an ox, and after I'd give him a few lessons in puttin' -up his hands, he'd knock out that sassy nigger o' the Colonel's." - -"I think so, too," acquiesced Si, with an estimating glance at the -sleeper. - -Abraham Lincoln's education began bright and early the next morning, -when Shorty kicked and shook him into wakefulness at the sound of the -reveille. - -"Git up; git up," said Shorty. "Wash your hands and face, comb your -hair, cut some wood and put it on the fire, and bring a kettle o' water -from the spring." - -"Wash my hands and face," said the negro, in a dazed way. "Wha' fo'? -Don't got nufin on dem. Comb my ha'r? Nebber did dat in my life." - -"Well, you've got to do it now every mornin', and be spry about it, too. -Come, don't move around as if sawed out o' basswood. This ain't nigger- -quarters. Git some springs in your feet." - -And he emphasized his injunctions with a vigorous push. - -The negro's face looked as if he began to have doubts as to whether -freedom was all that had been represented to him. To have to get up -early every morning, and wash his face and hands and comb his hair, -seemed at the moment to be a high price to pay for liberty. - -"Does I hab tuh do dat ebbery mornin', Boss?" he said, turning with a -look of plaintive inquiry to the Deacon.268 - -"Why, certainly," said the Deacon, who had just finished his own -ablutions,' and was combing his hair. "Every man must do that to be -decent." - -Abraham Lincoln gave a deep sigh. - -"Washes himself as if he's afraid the water'd scald him," said the -Deacon, watching the negro's awkward efforts. "He'll have to take more -kindly to water, if he comes into a Baptist total immersion family. -There's no salvation except by water, and plenty of it, too. Now," he -continued, as the black man had finished, "pick up that ax and cut some -wood to get breakfast with." - -Abraham Lincoln took the ax, and began belaboring the wood, while the -Deacon studied him with a critical eye. There was little that the Deacon -prided himself on more than his skill as a wood chopper. People who -think the ax is a simple, skill-less tool, dependent for its efficiency -solely upon the strength and industry with which it is wielded, make a -great mistake. There is as much difference in the way men handle axes, -and in the result they produce, as there is in their playing the violin. -Anybody can chop, it is true, as anybody can daub with a paint brush, -but a real axman of the breed of the Deacon, who had gone into the -wilderness with scarcely any other tool than an ax, can produce results -with it of which the clumsy hacker can scarcely imagine. The Deacon -watched the negro's work with disgust and impatience. - -"Hadn't oughter named sich a clumsy pounder as that 'Abraham Lincoln,'" -he mused. "Old Abe could handle an ax with the best of 'em. This feller -handles it as if it was a handspike. If Si couldn't 've269 used an ax -better'n that when he was 10 years old, I'd 'a' felt mortally ashamed o' -him. Gracious, what a job I have before me o' makin' a first-class man -out o' him." - -The Deacon Gives Abe a Lesson in Wood Chopping 269 - -He took the ax from the negro's hand, and patiently showed him how to -hold and strike with it. The man apparently tried his best to learn, but -it270 was a perspiring effort for him and the Deacon. The negro -presently dropped his ax, sat down on the log, and wiped his forehead -with his shirtsleeve. - -"'Fore God, Boss, dat's de hardest way ob cuttin' wood dat I ebber seed. -Hit'll kill me done daid to chop wood dat a-way." - -"Pshaw!" said the impatient Deacon. "You're simply stupid; that's all. -That's the only way to handle an ax. You kin cut with half the work that -way." - -He was discovering what so many of us have found out, that among the -hardest things in life is that of getting people to give up clumsy ways -for those that are better. - -In the meantime the boys had gotten breakfast. Then Shorty, who was -dying to train their new acquisition for a winning fight with the -Colonel's negro, took him behind the house for a little private -instruction in boxing. The field-hand had never even heard of such a -thing before, but Shorty was too much in earnest to care for a little -thing like that. He went at his task with a will, making the negro -double his fists just so, strike in a particular way, make a certain -"guard," and hit out scientifically. Shorty was so enthusiastic that he -did not stop to think that it was severe labor for the poor negro, and -when he had to stop his lesson at the end of half an hour to go on -battalion drill he left his pupil in a state of collapse. - -Ignorant of the new ordeal through which his charge had been going, the -Deacon went out in search of him. He had just finished reading the news -in the Cincinnati Commercial, ending with an271 editorial on "Our Duty -Toward the Freedmen," which impelled him to think that he could not -begin Abraham Lincoln's education too soon. - -"Now, Abe," said he briskly, "you've had a good rest, and it's time that -you should be doin' some thing. You ought to learn to read as soon as -possible, and you might as well begin to learn your letters at once. -I'll give you your first lesson. Here are some nice large letters in -this newspaper head, that you kin learn very easily. Now, the first one -is T. You see it is a cross." - -"Afo' de Lawd, Boss," wailed the desperate negro, "I jest can't l'arn no -mo', now, nohow. 'Deed I can't. Hit's bin nuffin but l'arn, l'arn, -ebbery minnit sense I got up dis mawnin', an' my haid's jest bustin', so -hit is. I a'most wisht I wuz back wid my ole mas'r, who didn't want to -l'arn me nuffin." - -The astonished Deacon paused and reflected. - -"Mebbe we've bin tryin' to force this plant too fast. There's danger -about puttin' new wine into old bottles. It's not the right way to train -anything. The way to break a colt is to hang the bridle on the fence -where he kin see and smell it for a day or two. I'll go a little slow -with him at first. Would you like something more to eat, Abe?" - -"Yes, Boss. 'Deed I would," answered the negro with cheerful promptness, -forgetting all about the pangs of the "new birth of freedom." - -THE END OF BOOK NO. 2. - - - - - - - -SI KLEGG SI AND SHORTY MEET MR. ROSENBAUM, THE SPY, WHO RELATES HIS -ADVENTURES - - - -By John McElroy - - - -BOOK No. 3 - - - -PUBLISHED BY - -THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE CO. - -WASHINGTON, D. C. - -SECOND EDITION - -COPYRIGHT 1910 - - - - - -THE SIX VOLUMES SI KLEGG, Book I, Transformation From a Raw Recruit SI -KLEGG, Book II, Through the Stone River Campaign SI KLEGG, Book III, -Meets Mr. Rosenbaum, the Spy SI KLEGG, Book IV, On The Great Tullahoma -Campaign SI KLEGG, Book V, Deacon's Adventures At Chattanooga SI KLEGG, -Book VI, Enter On The Atlanta Campaign - - - - - - -Si and Shorty As Mounted Infantry - - -titlepage (25K) - - - - - - -CONTENTS - - -SI KLEGG - -PREFACE - -CHAPTER I. OUT ON PICKET - -CHAPTER II. ROSENBAUM, THE SPY - -CHAPTER III. THE DEACON GOES HOME - -CHAPTER IV. A SPY'S EXPERIENCES - -CHAPTER V. THE BOYS GO SPYING - -CHAPTER VI. LETTER FROM HOME - -CHAPTER VII. CORN PONE AND BUTTERMILK - -CHAPTER VIII. A PERIOD OF SELF-DISGUST - -CHAPTER IX. SHORTY GETS A LETTER - -CHAPTER X. TRADING WITH THE REBS - -CHAPTER XI. SHORTY'S CORRESPONDENT - -CHAPTER XII. THE BAN ON WET GOODS - -CHAPTER XIII. THE JEW SPY WRITES - -CHAPTER XIV. SHORTY HAS AN ADVENTURE WITH SI - -CHAPTER XV. SHORTY NEARLY GOT MARRIED - -CHAPTER XVI. AN UNEXPECTED MARRIAGE - -CHAPTER XVII. GATHERING INFORMATION - -CHAPTER XVIII. THE JEW SPY AGAIN - - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - -Si and Shorty As Mounted Infantry - -Mr. Klegg Enjoys Solid Comfort. 16 - -"surrender, There, You Dumbed Rebel." 21 - -Trying to Save his Neck. 30 - -"i Know You, Unt What You're Here For." 32 - -The Negroes Merrymaking. 39 - -Klegg Starts Home. 45 - -Shorty Settles With the Banker. 51 - -Close Call for Rosenbaum. 54 - -The Spy in Custody. 58 - -Rosenbaum Runs Into Sigel's Pickets. 66 - -Watching the House. 75 - -The Surprise 79 - -Undesirable Acquaintances. 100 - -The Spoils of War 105 - -An Uncomfortable Situation 107 - -Shorty and si Are at Outs. 110 - -Si and Shorty As Mounted Infantry 117 - -Bushrod Prays for his Life 119 - -The Duel. 139 - -The Overture for Trade. 144 - -Si Wants a Fight 147 - -Shorty Wants to Fight Groundhog 157 - -Shorty Reading the Letter 160 - -She Whipped out a Long Knife. 189 - -Take Your Arm from Around That Yank's Neck 203 - -Jeff Sat up and Rubbed Himself 208 - -Old Bragg Used to Walk up Unt Down, Growling Unt Cussing. 259 - - - - - -SI KLEGG SI AND SHORTY MEET MR. ROSENBAUM, THE SPY, WHO RELATES HIS -ADVENTURES By John McElroy. - - - - - -PREFACE - -"Si Klegg, of the 200th Ind., and Shorty, his Partner," were born years -ago in the brain of John McElroy, Editor of The National Tribune. - -These sketches are the original ones published in The National Tribune, -revised and enlarged somewhat by the author. How true they are to nature -every veteran can abundantly testify from his own service. Really, only -the name of the regiment was invented. There is no doubt that there were -several men of the name of Josiah Klegg in the Union Army, and who did -valiant service for the Government. They had experiences akin to, if not -identical with, those narrated here, and substantially every man who -faithfully and bravely carried a musket in defense of the best -Government on earth had sometimes, if not often, experiences of which -those of Si Klegg are a strong reminder. - -The Publishers. - -THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE RANK AND FILE OF THE GRANDEST -ARMY EVER MUSTERED FOR WAR. - - - -CHAPTER I. OUT ON PICKET THE BOYS SHOW THE DEACON A NEW WRINKLE IN THE -CULINARY ART. - -SOME days later, Si had charge of a picket-post on the Readyville Pike, -near Cripple Deer Creek. The Deacon went with them, at their request, -which accorded with his own inclinations, The weather was getting warmer -every day, which made him fidgety to get back to his own fields, though -Si insisted that they were still under a foot of snow in Indiana. But he -had heard so much about picket duty that, next to battle, it was the -thing he most wanted to see. Abraham Lincoln was left behind to care for -the "house." He had been a disappointment so far, having developed no -strong qualities, except for eating and sleeping, of which he could do -unlimited quantities. - -"No use o' takin' him out on picket," observed Shorty, "unless we kin -git a wagon to go along and haul rations for him. I understand now why -these rebels are so poor; the niggers eat up everything they kin raise. -I'm afraid, Deacon, he'll make the Wabash Valley look sick when you turn -him loose in it." - -"I guess my farm kin stand him," said the Deacon proudly. "It stood Si -when he was a growin' boy, though he used, to strain it sometimes." - -They found a comfortable fence-corner facing16 south for their "tent," -which they constructed by making a roof of cedar boughs resting on a -rail running from one angle to another. They laid more boughs down in -the corner, and on this placed their blankets, making a bed which the -Deacon pronounced very inviting and comfortable. They built a fire in -front, for warmth and for cooking, and so set up housekeeping in a very -neat and soldier-like way. - -Mr. Klegg Enjoys Solid Comfort. 16 - -The afternoon passed without special incident. Shorty came in with a -couple of chickens, but the17 Deacon had learned enough to repress any -questions as to where and how he got them. He soon became more -interested in his preparations for cooking them. He had built a big fire -in a hole in the ground, and piled a quantity of dry cedar on this. Then -he cut off the heads and legs of the chickens, and, getting some mud -from the side of the road, proceeded to cover each, feathers and all, -with a coating nearly an inch thick. - -"What in the world do you mean by that, Shorty?" asked the Deacon in -surprise. - -"He's all right. Pap," assured Si. "He'll show you a new wrinkle in -chicken-fixin' that you kin teach mother when you go home. She knows -more about cookin' than any other woman in the world, but I'll bet she's -not up to this dodge." - -The fire had by this time burned down to a heap of glowing embers. The -boys scraped a hole in these, laid on it their two balls of mud, then -carefully covered them with live coals and piled on a little more wood. - -"I'll say right now," said the Deacon, "that I don't think much o' that -way. Why didn't you take their feathers off and clean out their innards? -Seems to me that's a nasty way." - -"Wait and see," said Shorty sententiously. - -Si had mixed some meal into a dough in the half-canteens he and Shorty -carried in their haversacks. He spread this out on a piece of sheet- -iron, and propped it up before the fire. In a little while it was nicely -browned over, when Si removed it from the sheet-iron, turned it over, -and browned the other side. He repeated this until he had a sufficiency -of18 "hoe cakes" for their supper. A kettle of good, strong coffee had -been boiling on the other side of the fire while this was going on. Then -they carefully raked the embers off, and rolled out two balls of hard- -baked clay. Waiting for these to cool a little, they broke them. The -skin and feathers came off with the pieces and revealed deliciously -savory, sweet meat, roasted just to a turn. The intestines had shriveled -up with the heat into little, hard balls, which were thrown away. - -"Yum—yum—yum," said Shorty, tearing one of the chickens in two, and -handing a piece to the Deacon, while Si gave him a sweet, crisp hoe cake -and a cup of strong coffee. "Now, this's what you might call livin'. -Never beat that cookin' in any house that had a roof. Only do that when -you've stars in the roof of your kitchen." - -"It certainly is splendid," admitted the Deacon. "I don't think Maria -could've done better." - -It was yet light when they finished their supper, filled their pipes, -and adjusted themselves for a comfortable smoke. One of the men came -back and said: - -"Corporal, there's a rebel on horseback down the road a little ways who -seems to be spying on us. We've noticed him for some little time. He -don't come up in good range, and we haven't fired at him, hopin' he'd -come closer. Better come and take a look at him." - -"Don't do anything to scare him off," said Si. "Keep quiet. Me and -Shorty'll sneak down through the field, out of sight, and git him." - -They picked up their guns and slipped out under19 the cover of the -undergrowth to where they could walk along the fence, screened by the -heavy thicket of sumach. Catching the excitement of the occasion, the -Deacon followed them at a little distance. - -Without discovery Si and Shorty made their way to a covert within an -easy 50 yards of where the horseman sat rather uneasily on a fine, -mettled animal. They got a good look at him. He was a young, slender -man, below medium hight, with curly, coalblack hair, short whiskers, a -hooked nose, and large, full eyes. He wore a gray suit of rather better -make and material than was customary in the rebel army. He had a -revolver in his belt and a carbine slung to his saddle, but showed no -immediate intention of using either. His right hand rested on his thigh, -and his eyes were intently fixed on the distant picket-post. - -"A rebel scout," whispered Si. "Shall we knock him over, and then order -him to surrender, or halt him first, and then shoot?" - -"He can't git away," said Shorty. "I have him kivered. You kivver his -hoss's head. Then call him down." - -Si drew his sights fine on the horse's head and yelled: - -"Surrender, there, you dumbed rebel." - -'surrender, There, You Dumbed Rebel.' 21 - -The man gave a quick start, a swift glance at the blue uniforms, and -instantly both hands went up. - -"That is all right, boys. Don't shoot. I'm a friend," he called in a -strong German accent. - -"Climb down off o' that boss, and come here, and do it mighty sudden," -called out Si, with his finger still on the trigger.20 - -The horse became restive at the sound of strange voices, but the man -succeeded in dismounting, and taking his reins in his hand, led the -horse up to the fence. - -"Very glad to see you, boys," said he, surveying their blue garments -with undisguised satisfaction, and putting out his other hand to shake. - -"Take off that revolver, and hand it here," ordered the wary Shorty, -following the man with the muzzle of his gun. The man slipped his arm -through the reins, unbuckled his revolver, and handed it to Shorty. Si -jumped over the fence and seized the carbine. - -"Who are you, and where did you come from?" asked Si, starting the man -up the road toward the post. - -"What rechiment do you belong to?" asked the stranger, warily. - -"We belong to Co. Q, 200th Injianny, the best regiment in Gen. -Rosecrans's army," answered Si proudly, that the captive might -understand where the honor of his taking belonged. - -"That is all right," said the stranger, with an air of satisfaction. -"The 200th Indianny is a very good regiment. I saw them whip John -Morgan's cavalry at Green River. Clumsy farmer boys, but shoot like born -devils." - -"But who are you, and where did you come from?" repeated Si impatiently. - -"I'm all right. I'm Levi Rosenbaum of Gen. Rosecrans's secret service. I -got some news for him." - -"You have?" said Si suspiciously. "Why didn't you ride right in and tell -it to him? What've you21 bin hangin' around here all afternoon, watchin' -our post for?" - -"I wasn't sure you was there. I was told that the Yankee pickets was -going to be pushed out to Cripple Deer Creek to-day, but I didn't know -it for sure. I was afraid that the rebels was there yet. Jim Jones, of -the secret service, had agreed to come out this afternoon and wave a -flag if it was all22 right. I was waiting for his sign. But he is -probably drunk. He always gets so when he reaches camp." - -The Deacon joined them in the road, and gave a searching glance at the -prisoner. - -"Ain't you a Jew?" he inquired presently. "Ain't your name Rosenbaum? -Didn't you go through Posey County, Ind., a year or two ago, with a -wagon, sellin' packs o' cloth to the farmers?" - -"I'm an American citizen," said the man proudly, "the same as the rest -of you. My religion is Hebrew. I don't know and don't care what your -religion is. Every man has the religion that suits him. My name is -Rosenbaum. I did sell cloth in Posey County, unt all over Indianny. It -was good cloth, too, unt I sold it at a bargain." - -"It certainly was good cloth, and cheap," admitted the Deacon. "What in -the world are you doin' down here in them clothes?" - -"I'm doing just what these men are doing here in their cloze," answered -Rosenbaum. "I'm trying to serve the country. I'm doing it different from -them, because I'm built different from them. I hope I'm doing it well. -But I'm awfully hungry. Got anything to eat? Just a cup of coffee and a -cracker? Don't care for any pork." - -"Yes, we'll give you something to eat," said Shorty. "I think there's -some of our chicken left. You'll find that good." - -"How did you cook that?" said Rosenbaum, looking at the tempting morsel -suspiciously. - -Shorty explained.23 - -"Thanks; I can't eat it," said Rosenbaum with a sigh. "It ain't kosher." - -"What the devil's that?" asked Shorty. - -"It's my religion. I can't explain. Send for the Officer of the Guard to -take me to Headquarters," answered Rosenbaum, sipping his coffee. - - - - - -CHAPTER II. ROSENBAUM, THE SPY THE JEW TELLS THE THRILLING STORY OF HIS -ADVENTURE. - -THE Officer of the Guard was a long time in coming, and Mr. Rosenbaum -grew quite chatty and communicative, as they sat around the bright fire -of cedar logs and smoked. - -"Yes," he said, "I have been in the secret service ever since the -beginning of the war—in fact, before the war, for I began getting news -for Frank Blair in the Winter before the war. They say Jews have no -patriotism. That's a lie. Why should they have no patriotism for -countries where they were treated like dogs? In Germany, where I was -born, they treated us worse than dogs. They made us live in a little, -nasty, pig-pen of an alley; we had to go in at sundown, unt stay there; -we had to wear a different cloze from other folks, unt we didn't dare to -say our souls were our own to any dirty loafer that insulted us. - -"Here we are treated like men, unt why shouldn't we help to keep the -country from breaking up? Jews ought to do more than anybody else, unt I -made up my mind from the very first that I was going to do all that I -could. The Generals have told me that I could do much better for the -country in the secret service than as a soldier; they could get plenty -of soldiers unt but few spies."25 - -"Now you're shoutin'," said Shorty. "They kin git me to soldier as long -as the war lasts, for the askin', but I wouldn't be a spy 10 minutes for -a corn-basket full o' greenbacks. I have too much regard for my neck. I -need it in my business." - -"You a spy," said Si derisively. "You couldn't spy for sour apples. Them -big feet o' your'n 'd give you dead away to anybody that'd ever seen you -before." - -"Spyin' isn't the business that any straightfor'rd man,"—the Deacon -began to say in tones of cold disapproval, and then he bethought him of -courtesy to the stranger, and changed hastily—"that I'd like to do. It's -entirely too resky." - -"O, it's jest as honorable as anything else. Pap," said Si, divining his -father's thought. "All's fair in love and war. We couldn't git along -without spies. They're as necessary as muskets and cannon." - -"Indeed they are," said Mr. Rosenbaum earnestly; "you wouldn't know what -to do with your muskets and cannon if the spies didn't tell you where -the rebels were, unt how many there was of them. I go out unt get -information that it would cost hundreds of lives to get, unt may save -thousands of lives, unt all that it costs is one poor little Jew's neck, -when they drop on to him some day, unt leave him swinging from a tree. -But when that time comes, I shall make no more complaint than these -other poor boys do, who get their heads knockt off in battle. I'm no -better than they are. My life belongs to the country the same as theirs, -unt this free Government is worth all our lives, unt more, too." - -His simple, sincere patriotism touched the Deacon26 deeply. "I'd no idee -that there was so much o' the man in a Jew," he said to himself. Then he -asked the stranger: - -"How did you come to go into the spy business, Mr. Rosenbaum?" - -"Well, I was in St. Louis in the Clothing pizniss, unt you know it was -purty hot there. All the Germans were for the Union, unt most of the -Americans unt Irish seemed to be Secessionists. I sided with the -Germans, but as nobody seemed to think that a Jew had any principles or -cared for anything but the almighty dollar, everybody talked right out -before me, unt by keepin' my ears wide open I got hold of lots of news, -which I took straight to General Lyon. I got well acquainted with him, -and he used to send me here and there to find out things for him. I'd -sell gray uniforms and other things to the Secessionists; they'd talk to -one another right before me as to what was being done, and I'd keep my -ears wide open all the time, though seemed to be only thinking about the -fit and the buttons and the gold lace. - -"Then General Lyon wanted to find out just exactly how many men there -was in Camp Jackson—no guesswork—no suppose. I took 2,000 of my business -cards, printed on white, and 1,000 printed on gray paper. I went through -the whole camp. To every man in uniform I give a white card; to every -man without a uniform, who seemed to be there for earnest, I give a gray -card. When I got back I counted my cards in General Lyon's office, unt -found I'd give out 500 white cards unt 200 gray27 ones. Then General -Lyon took out about 3,000 men, unt brought the whole crowd back with -him." - -"Then General Lyon," continued Rosenbaum, "sent me out from Springfield, -Mizzouri, to see how many men old Pap Price unt Ben McCullough had -gathered up against him from Mizzouri, Arkansaw, Texas unt the plains. -Holy Moses, I was scared when I saw the pile of them. The whole world -seemed to be out there, yipping unt yelling for Jeff Davis, drinking raw -sod-corn whisky, making secession speeches, unt shooting at marks. - -"I rode right into them, unt pretended that I was looking for Mexican -silver dollars to take to Mexico to buy powder unt lead for the rebel -army. I had a lot of new Confedrit notes that I'd got from my cousin, -who was in the tobacco business in Memphis. They was great curiosities, -unt every man who had a Mexican dollar wanted to trade it for a -Confedrit dollar. - -"There was no use tryin' to count the men—might as well have tried to -count the leaves on the trees, so I begun to count the regiments. I -stuck a pin in my right lapel for every Mizzouri regiment, one in my -left lapel for every Arkansaw regiment, one in my vest for every one -from Texas. I had black pins for the cannons. I was getting along very -well, when I run across Bob Smiles, a dirty loafer, who had been a -customer in St. Louis. He wouldn't pay me, unt I had to get out a writ -unt levy on his clothes just as he was dressing to go to a quadroon -ball. - -"I left him with only a necktie, which was worth nothing to me, as it -had been worn and soiled. He was very sore against me, unt I was not -surprised.28 - -"It made me sick at my stomach when I saw him come up. - -"'Hello, you damn Dutch Jew,' he said. 'What are you doing here?' - -"I tried to be very pleasant, unt I put out my hand unt said, with my -best smile: - -"'Good gracious. Bob, how glad I am to see you. When did you get here? -Are you well? How are the other boys? Who's here? Where are you -stopping?' - -"But I might as well have tried to make friends with a bull dog in front -of a farm house where all the people had gone away. - -"'Go to blazes,' he said. 'None of your bizniss how I am, how I got -here, or how the other boys are. Better not let them find out you're -here. They'll take it out of your Jew hide for the way you used to skin -them in St. Louis. I want to know what the devil you are doing here?' - -"'Now, Mister Smiles,' I said, pleasant as a May morning, 'that's not -the way to talk to me. You know I got up the stylishest clothes unt the -best fits in St. Louis. We had a little trouble, it is true. It was -nothing, though. Just a little business dispute. You know I always -thought you one of the very nicest men in St. Louis, unt I said so, even -to the Squire unt to the Constable.' - -"'Go to the devil, you Savior-killing Jew,' said he. 'Shut up your -mouth, or I'll stuff a piece of pork in it. I want to know at once what -you are doing here? Where did you come from?' - -"'I come from Memphis,' said I. 'I'm in the service of the Southern -Confedrisy. General Pillow sent29 me to gather up all the Mexican -dollars I could find, to send to Mexico to buy ammunition.' - -"'It's a lie, of course,' said he. 'A Jew'd rather lie than eat, any -day. Then you're one of them St. Louis Dutch—them imported Hessians. -They're all dead against us. They all ought to be killed. I ought to -kill you myself for being so cussed mean to me.' - -"He put his hand on his revolver in a way that made my breakfast sour in -my stomach, but then I knew that Bob Smiles was a great blowhard, unt -his bark was much worse than his bite. In St. Louis he was always going -to fight somebody unt kill somebody, but he never done neither. Quite a -crowd gathered around, unt Bob blew off to them, unt they yelled, 'Hang -the Jew spy. Kill the damn rascal,' and other things that made me -unhappy. But what made my flesh crawl was to see a man who wasn't saying -much, go to a wagon, pull out a rope, unt begin making a noose on the -end. Bob Smiles caught hold of my collar unt started to drag me toward a -tree. Just as I was giving up everything for lost, up comes Jim -Jones—the same man I'm going to meet here—he come runnin' up. He was -dressed in full uniform as a rebel officer—gray coat unt pants, silver -stars on his collar, high boots, gray slouched hat with gold cord, unt -so on. - -"'Here, what is the matter? What's all this fuss in camp?' he said. - -"'We've ketched one of them Dutch Jews from St. Louis spying our camp, -Major,' said Bob Smiles, letting loose of my collar to salute the -Major's silver stars. 'And we are going to hang him.'30 - -"'A spy? How do you know he's a spy?'" asked Jim Jones. - -"'Well, he's Dutch; he's a Jew, unt he's from St. Louis. What more do -you want?'" asked Bob Smiles. - -Trying to Save his Neck. 30 - -The crowd yelled, unt de man with the rope went to the tree unt flung -one end over a limb. - -"'His being a St. Louis Dutchman is against him,'31 said Jim Jones, 'but -his being a Jew is in his favor. A Jew don't care a blame for politics. -He hain't got no principles. He'd rather make a picayune off you in a -trade than have a wagon-load of principles. But you fellers have got -nothing to do with spies, anyway. That's headquarters' bizniss. I'm an -officer at General Price's headquarters. I'll take him up there unt -examine him. Bring him along.' - -"'Go along, Jew,' said two of three of them, giving me kicks, as Bob -Smiles started with me. The man with the rope stood by the tree looking -very disappointed. - -"When we got near General Price's tent, Jim Jones says to the rest: - -"'You stop there. Come along with me, Jew.' - -"He took me by the collar, unt we walked toward General Price's tent. He -whispered to me as we went along: 'You're all right, Rosenbaum. I know -you, unt I know what you're here for. Just keep a stiff upper lip, tell -your story straight, unt I'll see you through.' - -'i Know You, Unt What You're Here For.' 32 - -"That scared me worse than ever, but all that I could do was to keep up -my nerve, unt play my cards coolly. We went into the General's tent, but -he was busy, unt motioned us with his hand to the Adjutant-General. - -"'What's the matter?' asked the Adjutant-General, motioning me to sit -down, while he went on making tally marks on a sheet of paper, as a man -called off the regiments that had reported. Then he footed them all up, -unt, turning to another officer, read from it so many Arkansaw -regiments, so many32 Louisianny, so many Mizzouri, so many Texas, so -many batteries of artillery, unt he said to another officer as he laid -the paper face down among the other papers on his table: 'Just as I told -you, Colonel. We have fully 22,000 men ready for battle.' Then to us: -'Well, what can I do for you?' - -"'The boys had picked up this Jew for a spy, Colonel,' said Jim Jones, -pointing to me, 'unt they33 were about to hang him, just to pass away -the afternoon more than for anything else. I took him away from them, -telling them that it was your privilege to hang spies, unt you could do -it according to the science of war. I brung him up here to get him away -from them. After they're gone away or got interested in something else -I'll take him unt put him outside of camp.' - -"'All right," said de Adjutant-General, without taking much interest in -the matter. 'Do with him as you please. A Jew more or less isn't of any -consequence. Probably he deserves hanging, though, but it isn't well to -encourage the boys to hang men on sight. They're quite too ready to do -that, anyway.' - -"He talked to the other man a little, unt then when he went away he -turned to me, unt said, sort of lazy like, as if he didn't care anything -about it: - -"'Where are you from?' - -"'From Memphis,' said I. - -"'Great place, Memphis,' said he; 'one of the thriving suburbs of -Satan's Kingdom. Had lots of fun there. I know every faro bank in it, -which speaks well for my memory, if not for my morals. What bizniss was -you in?' - -"'Clothing,' said I. - -"'What a fool question to ask a Jew,' said he, yawning. 'Of course, you -was in the clothing trade. You was born in it. All Jews have been since -they gambled for the Savior's garments.' - -"'They wasn't Jews what gambled for Christ's clothes,' said I, picking -up a little courage. 'They vass Romans—Italians—Dagoes.'34 - -"'Was they?' said he. 'Well, mebbe they was. I haven't read my Bible for -so long that I've clean forgot. Say, what are you doing with all them -pins?' - -"The question come so unexpected that it come nearly knocking me off my -base. I had calculated on almost every other possible thing, unt was -ready for it, except that fool question. I thought for a minit that -disappointed man by the tree with the rope was going to get his job, -after all. But I gathered myself together with a jerk, unt calmly said -with a smile: - -"'O, that's some of my foolishness. I can't get over being a tailor, and -sticking all the pins what I find in my lapel. I must pick up every one -I see.' - -"'Queer where you found them all,' said he. 'Must've brung them from -Memphis with you. I can't find one in the whole camp. Our men use nails -unt thorns instead of pins. I've been wanting a lot of pins for my -papers. Let me have all you got. I wish you had a paper of them.' - -"I did have two or three papers in my pockets, unt first had a fool idea -of offering them to him. Then I remembered that disappointed man with -the rope by the tree, unt pulled the pins out of my lapels one by one -unt give them to him, trying to keep count in my head as I did so. - -"'What are you doing here, anyway?' he asked as he gathered up the pins -unt put them in a pasteboard box. - -"'I come here at General Pillow's orders, to pick up some Mexican silfer -dollars, to buy ammunition in Mexico. - -"'Another of old blowhard Pillow's fool schemes,'35 said he. 'I know old -Pillow. I served with him in Mexico, when he dug his ditch on the wrong -side of his fortification. He's probably going to do some-thing else -with the dollars than buy ammunition. Old Gid Pillow's a mighty slick -one, I tell you, when it comes to filling his own pockets. He's no fool -there, whatever he may be in other ways. He's working some scheme to -skin our men, unt making you his partner, then he'll turn around unt -skin you. I'll stop it going any further by turning you out of camp, unt -I ought to take away from you all the money you've gathered up, but I -won't do it on one condition.' - -"'What is your condition?' said I, trying not to speak too quick. - -"'You say you are in the clothing pizniss. I want awfully a nice -uniform, just like the Major's there. What's such a uniform worth?' - -"'About $75,' said I. - -"'I paid $65 for this in St. Louis,' said Jim Jones. - -"'Well, $10 is not much of a skin for a Memphis Jew,' laughed the -Adjutant-General. 'I tell you what I'll do, if you'll swear by the book -of Deuteronomy, unt Moses, Abraham unt Isaac, to have me inside of two -weeks just such a uniform as the Major's there, I'll let you off with -all the money you have made already, unt when you come back with it I'll -give you written permission to trade for every silver dollar in camp.' - -"'It is a bargain,' said I. - -"'Unt it'll be a perfect fit," said he. - -"'Just like the paper on the wall,' said I. 'Let me36 take your -measure.' - -"I had my eye all the time on the paper he had laid carelessly down unt -forgotten. I pulled my tapemeasure out. The old idee of the tailor come -up. I forgot about the disappointed man with the rope by the tree, unt -was my old self taking the measure of a customer. I put all the figures -down on his piece of paper, without his noticing what I was using. I -asked him about the lining, the trimming, unt the pockets, unt wrote -them down. Then I folded up the paper unt stuck it in my breast pocket, -unt my heart gave a big thump, though I kept my face straight, unt went -on talking about buttons unt silk braid unt gold lace for the sleeves. I -promised him he should have the uniform in the army in two weeks' time. -Just then some officers come in, unt Jim Jones hurried me out. I could -not understand Jim Jones. He hurried me across to a place behind the -woods, where we found some horses. - -"'Untie that one unt get on quick,' he said. 'My God, you've got the -thing dead to rights; you've got everything on that piece of paper. My -God, what luck! Smartest thing I ever saw done. Get that paper in -General Lyon's hands before midnight if you kill yourself unt horse in -doing it. I'll take you out past part of the guards, unt show you how to -avoid the rest. Then ride as if the devil was after you, until you reach -General Lyon's tent.' - -"I was dumfounded. I looked at Jim Jones. His eyes was like fire. Then -it suddenly occurred to me that Jim Jones was a spy, too. - -"As I mounted I looked back across the camp. I saw the rope still -hanging from a limb of the tree,37 and the disappointed man sitting down -beside it patiently waiting. - -"That night the paper was in General Lyon's hands, unt the next night -the army moved out to fight the battle of Wilson's Creek. - -"The Adjutant-General is still waiting for that uniform." - -"Halt, who comes there?" called out Shorty, whose quick ears caught the -sound of approaching footsteps. - -"The Officer of the Guard," responded from the bank of darkness in the -rear. - -"Advance, Officer of the Guard, and give the countersign," commanded -Shorty, lowering his musket to a charge bayonets. - -The officer advanced, leaned over the bayonet's point, and whispered the -countersign. - -"Countersign's correct," announced Shorty, bringing his gun to a -present. "Good evening. Lieutenant. We have got a man here who claims to -belong to the Secret Service." - -"Yes," answered the officer. "We've been expecting him all afternoon, -but thought he was coming in on the other road. I'd have been around -here long ago only for that. This is he, is it? Well, let's hurry in. -They want you at Headquarters as soon as possible." - -"Good night, boys," called out Mr. Rosenbaum as he disappeared; "see you -again soon." - -38 - - - - -CHAPTER III. THE DEACON GOES HOME SHORTY FALLS A VICTIM TO HIS GAMBLING -PROPENSITIES. - -THE BOYS did not finish their tour of picket duty till the forenoon of -the next day, and it was getting toward evening when they reached their -own camp. - -"What in the world's going on at the house?" Si asked anxiously, as they -were standing on the regimental parade ground waiting to be dismissed. -Strange sounds came floating from that direction. The scraping of a -fiddle was mingled with yells, the rush of feet, and laughter. - -"I'll go over there and see," said the Deacon, who had sat down behind -the line on a pile of the things they had brought back with them. He -picked up the coffee-pot, the frying-pan, and one of the haversacks, and -walked in the direction of the house. As he turned into the company -street and came in sight of the cabin he looked for an instant, and then -broke out: - -"I'm blamed if they don't seem to be havin' a nigger political rally -there, with the house as campaign headquarters. Where in time could they -have all come from? Looks like a crow-roost, with some o' the crows -drunk." - -Apparently, all the negro cooks, teamsters, officers' servants, and -roustabouts from the adjoining camps39 had been gathered there, with -Groundhog, Pilgarlic, and similar specimens of the white teamsters among -them and leading them. - -The Negroes Merrymaking. 39 - -Seated on a log were three negroes, one sawing on an old fiddle, one -picking a banjo, and one playing the bones. Two negroes were in the -center of a ring, dancing, while the others patted "Juba." All were more -or less intoxicated. Groundhog and Pilgarlic were endeavoring to get up -a fight between Abraham Lincoln and another stalwart, stupid negro, and -were plying them with whisky from a canteen and egging them on with -words.40 - -The Deacon strode up to Groundhog and, catching him by the arm, demanded -sternly: - -"What are you doing, you miserable scoundrel? Stop it at once." - -Groundhog, who had drunk considerable himself, and was pot-valiant, -shook him off roughly, saying: - -"G'way from here, you dumbed citizen. This hain't none o' your bizniss. -Go back to your haymow and leave soldiers alone." - -The Deacon began divesting himself of his burden to prepare for action, -but before he could do so, Shorty rushed in, gave Groundhog a vigorous -kick, and he and Si dispersed the rest of the crowd in a hurry with -sharp cuffs for all they could reach. The meeting broke up without a -motion to adjourn. - -The Deacon caught Abraham Lincoln by the collar and shook him -vigorously. - -"You black rascal," he said, "what've you bin up to?" - -"Didn't 'spect you back so soon. Boss," gasped the negro. "Said you -wouldn't be back till termorrer." - -"No matter when you expected us back," said the Deacon, shaking him -still harder, while Si winked meaningly at Shorty. "What d'ye mean by -sich capers as this? You've bin a-drinkin' likker, you brute." - -"Cel'bratun my freedom," gasped the negro. "Groundhog done tole me to." - -"I'd like to celebrate his razzled head offen him," exploded the Deacon. -"I'll welt him into dog's meat hash if I kin lay my hands on him. He's -too mean and wuthless to even associate with mules. If I'd a41 dog on my -place as onery as he is I'd give him a button before night. He's not -content with bein' a skunk himself; he wants to drag everybody else down -to his level. Learnin' you to drink whisky and fight as soon as you're -out o' bondage. Next thing he'll be learnin' you to steal sheep and vote -for Vallandigham. I'd like to put a stone around his neck and feed him -to the catfish." - -There was something so strange and earnest about the Deacon's wrath that -it impressed the negro more than any of the most terrible exhibitions of -wrath that he had seen his master make. He cowered down, and began -crying in a maudlin way and begging: - -"Pray God, Boss, don't be so hard on a poor nigger." - -Si, who had learned something more of the slave nature than his father, -ended the unpleasant scene by giving Abraham Lincoln a sharp slap across -the hips with a piece of clapboard and ordering: - -"Pick up that camp-kettle, go to the spring and fill it, and git back -here in short meter." - -The blow came to the negro as a welcome relief. It was something that he -could understand. He sprang to his feet, grinned, snatched up the -campkettle, and ran to the spring. - -"I must get that man away from here without delay," said the Deacon. -"The influences here are awful. They'll ruin him. He'll lose his soul if -he stays here. I'll start home with him to-morrow." - -"He'll do worse'n lose his soul," grumbled Shorty, who had been looking -over the provisions. "He'll lose the top of his woolly head if he brings -another42 gang o' coons around here to eat us out o' house and home. -I'll be gosh durned if I don't believe they've eat up even all the salt -and soap. There ain't a crumb left of anything. Talk about losin' his -soul. I'd give six bits for something to make him lose his appetite." - -"I'll take him home to-morrow," reiterated the Deacon. "I raised over -'leven hundred bushels o' corn last year, 'bout 500 o' wheat, and just -an even ton o' pork. I kin feed him awhile, anyway, but I don't know as -I'd chance two of him." - -"What'll you do if you have him and the grasshoppers the same year, -Pap?" inquired Si. - -That night the Deacon began his preparations for returning home. He had -gathered up many relics from the battlefield to distribute among his -friends at home and decorate the family mantlepiece. There were -fragments of exploded shells, some canister, a broken bayonet, a smashed -musket, a solid 12-pound shot, and a quart or more of battered bullets -picked up in his walks over the scenes of the heavy fighting. - -"Looks as if you were going into the junk business. Pap," commented Si, -as the store was gathered on the floor. - -The faithful old striped carpetsack was brought out, and its handles -repaired with stout straps. The thrifty Deacon insisted on taking home -some of Si's and Shorty's clothes to be mended. The boys protested. - -"We don't mend clothes in the army, Pap," said Si. "They ain't wuth it. -We just wear 'em out throw 'em away, and draw new ones." - -The Deacon held out that his mother and sisters43 would take great -pleasure in working on such things, from the feeling that they were -helping the war along. Finally the matter was compromised by putting in -some socks to be darned and shirts to be mended. Then the bullets, -canister, round-shot, fragments of shell, etc., were filled in. - -"I declare," said the Deacon dubiously, as he hefted the carpetsack. -"It's goin' to be a job to lug that thing back home. Better hire a mule- -team. But I'll try it. Mebbe it'll help work some o' the stupidity out -o' Abraham Lincoln." - -The whole of Co. Q and most of the regiment had grown very fond of the -Deacon, and when it was noised around that he was going, they crowded in -to say good-by, and give him letters and money to take home. The -remaining space in the carpetsack and all that in the Deacon's many -pockets were filled with these. - -The next morning the company turned out to a man and escorted him to the -train, with Si and his father marching arm-in-arm at the head, the -company fifers playing, - -"Ain't I glad to get out of the Wilderness, Way down in Tennessee," - -and Abraham Lincoln, laden with the striped carpetsack, the smashed -musket and other relics, bringing up the rear, under the supervision of -Shorty. Tears stood in the old man's eyes as he stood on the platform of -the car, and grasped Si's and Shorty's hands in adieu. His brief -farewell was characteristic of the strong, self-contained Western44 man: - -"Good-by, boys. God bless you. Take care of yourselves. Be good boys. -Come home safe after the war." - -Klegg Starts Home. 45 - -The boys stood and watched the train with sorrowful eyes until it had -passed out of sight in the woods beyond Overall's Creek, and then turned -to go to their camp with a great load of homesickness weighing down -their hearts. - -"Just think of it; he's going straight back to God's country," said -someone near. - -A sympathetic sigh went up from all. - -"Shet up," said Shorty savagely. "I don't want to hear a word o' that -kind. He pulled his hat down over his eyes, rammed his hands deep in his -pockets, and strode off, trying to whistle - -"When this cruel war is over," - -but the attempt was a dismal failure. Si separated from the crowd and -joined him. They took an unfrequented and roundabout way back to camp. - -"I feel all broke up. Si," said Shorty. "I wish that we were goin' into -a fight, or something to stir us up." - -Si understood his partner's mood, and that it was likely to result in an -outbreak of some kind. He tried to get him over to the house, so that he -could get him interested in work there. - -They came to a little hidden ravine, and found it filled with men -playing that most fascinating of all gambling games to the average -soldier—chucka-luck. There were a score of groups, each gathered around -as45 many "sweat-boards." Some of the men "running" the games were -citizens, and some were in uniform. Each had before him a small board on -which was sometimes painted, sometimes rudely marked with charcoal, -numbers from 1 to 6. - -On some of the boards the numbers were indicated by playing-cards, from -ace to six-spot, tacked down. The man who "ran" the game had a dice-box, -with three dice. He would shake the box, turn it upside46 down on the -board, and call upon the group in front of him to make their bets. - -The players would deposit their money on the numbers that they fancied, -and then, after the inquiry, "All down?" the "banker" would raise the -box and reveal the dice. Those who had put their money on any of the -three numbers which had turned up, would be paid, while those who bet on -the other three would lose. - -Chuck-a-luck was strictly prohibited in camp, but it was next to -impossible to keep the men from playing it. Citizen gamblers would gain -admittance to camp under various pretexts and immediately set up boards -in secluded places, and play till they were discovered and run out, by -which time they would have made enough to make it an inducement to try -again whenever they could find an opportunity. They followed the army -incessantly for this purpose, and in the aggregate carried off immense -sums of the soldiers' pay. Chuck-a-luck is one of the fairest of -gambling games, when fairly played, which it rarely or never is by a -professional gambler. A tolerably quick, expert man finds little -difficulty in palming the dice before a crowd of careless soldiers so as -to transfer the majority of their bets to his pocket. The regular -citizen gamblers were reinforced by numbers of insatiable chuck-a- -luckers in the ranks, who would set up a "board" at the least chance, -even under the enemy's fire, while waiting the order to move. - -Chuck-a-luck was Shorty's greatest weakness. He found it as difficult to -pass a chuck-a-luck board as an incurable drunkard does to pass a dram- -shop.47 - -Si knew this, and shuddered a little as he saw the "layouts," and tried -to get his partner past them. But it was of no use. Shorty was in an -intractable mood. He must have a strong distraction. If he could not -fight he would gamble. - -"I'm goin' to bust this feller's bank before I go another step," said -he, stopping before one. "I know him. He's the same feller that, you -remember, I busted down before Nashville. I kin do it agin. He's a bum -citizen gambler. He thinks he's the smartest chuck-a-lucker in the Army -o' the Cumberland, but I'll learn him different." - -"Don't risk more'n a dollar," begged Si as a final appeal. - -"All down?" called the "banker." - -"Allow doublin'?" inquired Shorty. - -"Double as much as you blamed please, so long's you put your money -down," answered the "banker" defiantly. - -"Well, then, here goes a dollar on that five-spot," said Shorty, -"skinning" a bill from a considerable roll. - -"Don't allow more'n 25 cents bet on single cards, first bet," said the -"banker," dismayed by the size of the roll. - -"Thought you had some sand," remarked Shorty contemptuously. "Well, -then, here's 25 cents on the five-spot, and 25 cents on the deuce," and -he placed shin-plasters on the numbers. "Now, throw them dice straight, -and no fingerin'. I'm watchin' you." - -"Watch and be durned," said the "banker" surlily. "Watch your own -business, and I'll watch mine. I'm as honest as you are any day."48 - -The "banker" lifted the box, and showed two sixes and a tray up. He -raked in the bets on the ace, deuce, four and five-spots, and paid the -others. - -"Fifty cents on the deuce; 50 cents on the five," said Shorty, laying -down the fractional currency. - -Again they lost. - -"A dollar on the deuce; a dollar on the five," said Shorty. - -The same ill luck. - -"Two dollars on the deuce; two dollars on the five," said Shorty, though -Si in vain plucked his sleeve to get him away. - -The spots remained obstinately down. - -"Four dollars on the deuce; four dollars on the five," said Shorty. - -No better luck. - -"Eight dollars on the deuce; eight dollars on the five," said Shorty. - -"Whew, there goes more'n a month's pay," said the other players, -stopping to watch the dice as they rolled out, with the deuce and five- -spot down somewhere else than on top. "And his roll's beginning to look -as if an elephant had stepped on it. Now we'll see his sand." - -"Come, Shorty, you've lost enough. You've lost too much already. Luck's -agin you," urged Si. "Come away." - -"I ain't goin'," said Shorty, obstinately. "Now's my chance to bust him. -Every time them spots don't come up increases the chances that they'll -come up next time. They've got to. They're not loaded; I kin tell that -by the way they roll. He ain't fingerin' 'em; I stopped that when I made -him49 give 'em a rollin' throw, instead o' keep in' 'em kivvered with -the box." - -"Sixteen dollars on the deuce; sixteen dollars on the five-spot. And I -ain't takin' no chances o' your jumpin' the game on me, Mr. Banker. I -want you to plank down $32 alongside o' mine." - -Shorty laid down his money and put his fists on it. "Now put yours right -there." - -"O, I've got money enough to pay you. Don't be skeered," sneered the -"banker," "and you'll git it if you win it." - -"You bet I will," answered Shorty. "And I'm goin' to make sure by havin' -it right on the board alongside o' mine. Come down, now." - -The proposition met the favor of the other players, and the "banker" was -constrained to comply. - -"Now," said Shorty, as the money was counted down, "I've jest $20 more -that says that I'll win. Put her up alongside." - -The "banker" was game. He pulled out a roll and said as he thumbed it -over: - -"I'll see you $20, and go you $50 better that I win." - -Shorty's heart beat a little faster. All his money was up, but there was -the $50 which the Deacon had intrusted to him for charitable purposes. -He slipped his hand into his bosom, felt it, and looked at Si. Si was -not looking at him, but had his eyes fixed on a part of the board where -the dice had been swept after the last throw. Shorty resisted the -temptation for a moment, and withdrew his hand. - -"Come down, now," taunted the "banker." "You've blowed so much about -sand. Don't weaken over a50 little thing like $50. I'm a thoroughbred, -myself, I am. The man don't live that kin bluff me." - -The taunt was too much for Shorty. He ran his hand into his bosom in -desperation, pulled out the roll of the Deacon's money, and laid it on -the board. - -Si had not lifted his eyes. He was wondering why the flies showed such a -liking for the part of the board where the dice were lying. Numbers of -them had gathered there, apparently eagerly feeding. He was trying to -understand it. - -He had been thinking of trying a little shy at the four-spot himself, as -he had noticed that it had never won, and two or three times he had -looked for it before the dice were put in the box, and had seen the -"banker" turn it down on the board before picking the dice up. A thought -flashed into his mind. - -The "banker" picked up the dice with seeming carelessness, dropped them -into the box, gave them a little shake, and rolled them out. Two threes -and a six came up. The "banker's" face lighted up with triumph, and -Shorty's deadened into acute despair. - -"I guess that little change is mine," said the "banker" reaching for the -pile. - -"Hold on a minnit. Mister," said Si, covering the pile with his massive -hands. "Shorty, look at them dice. He's got molasses on one side. You -kin see there where the flies are eatin' it." - -Shorty snatched up the dice, felt them and touched his tongue to one -side. "That's so, sure's you're a foot high," said he sententiously. - -Just then someone yelled: - -"Scatter! Here come the guards!"51 - -All looked up. A company coming at the doublequick was almost upon them. -The "banker" made a final desperate claw for the money, but was met by -the heavy fist of Shorty and knocked on his back. Shorty grabbed what -money there was on the board, and he and Si made a burst of speed which -took them out of reach of the "provos" in a few seconds. Looking back -from a safe distance they could see the "bankers" and a lot of the more -luckless ones being gathered together to march to the guard-house. -"Another detachment of horny-handed laborers for the fortifications," -said Shorty grimly, as he52 recovered his breath, watched them, and sent -up a yell of triumph and derision. "Another contribution to the charity -fund," he continued, looking down at the bunch of bills and fractional -currency in his hands. - -Shorty Settles With the Banker. 51 - -"Shorty," said Si earnestly, "promise me solemnly that you'll never bet -at chuck-a-luck agin as long as you live." - -"Si, don't ask me impossibilities. But I want you to take every cent o' -this money and keep it. Don't you ever give me more'n $5 at a time, -under any consideration. Don't you do it, if I git down on my knees and -ask for it. Lord, how nigh I come to losin' that $50 o' your father's." - - - - - -CHAPTER IV. A SPY'S EXPERIENCES MR. ROSENBAUM TELLS THE BOYS MORE OF HIS -ADVENTURES. - -MR. ROSENBAUM became a frequent visitor to the Hoosier's Rest, and -generally greatly interested Si and Shorty with his stories of -adventure. - -"How did you happen to come into the Army of the Cumberland?" asked Si. -"I'd a-thought you'd staid where you knowed the country and the people." - -"That was just the trouble," replied Rosenbaum. "I got to know them very -well, but they got to know me a confounded sight better. When I was in -the clothing pizniss in St. Louis I tried to have everybody know me. I -advertised. I wanted to be a great big sunflower that everybody noticed. -But when I got to be a spy I wanted to be a modest little violet that -hid under the leaves, unt nobody saw. Then every man what knew me become -a danger, unt it got so that I shuddered every time that I see a limb -running out from a tree, for I didn't know how soon I might be hung from -it. I had some awful narrow escapes, I tell you. - -"But what decided me to leave the country unt skip over de Mississippi -River was something that happened down in the Boston Mountains just -before the battle of Pea Ridge. I was down there watching Van Dorn unt -Ben McCullough for General Curtis, unt54 was getting along all right. I -was still playing the old racket about buying up Mexican silver dollars -to buy ammunition. One night I was sitting at a campfire with two or -three others, when a crowd of Texans come up. They was just drunk enough -to be devilish, unt had a rope with a noose on the end, which I noticed -first thing. I had begun to keep a sharp lookout for such things. My -flesh creeped when I saw them. I tried to think what had stirred them up -all at once, but couldn't for my life recollect, for everything had been -going on all right for several days. The man with the rope—a big, ugly -brute, with red hair unt one eye—says: - -"'You're a Jew, ain't you?' - -"'Yes,' says I; 'I was born that way.' - -"'Well,' says he, 'we're going to hang you right off.' Unt he put the -noose around my neck unt began trying to throw the other end over a -limb." - -Close Call for Rosenbaum. 54 - -"'What for?' I yelled, trying to pull the rope off my neck. 'I ain't -done nothing.' - -"'Hain't eh?' said the man with one eye. 'You hook-nosed Jews crucified -our Savior.' - -"'Why, you red-headed fool,' said I, catching hold of the rope with both -hands, 'that happened more as 1,800 years ago. Let me go.' - -"'I don't care if it did,' said the one-eyed man, getting the end of the -rope over the limb, 'we didn't hear about it till the Chaplain told us -this morning, unt then the boys said we'd kill every Jew we come across. -Catch hold of the end here, Bowers.' - -"The other fellers around me laughed at the Texans so that they finally -agreed to let me go if I'd promise not to do it again, holler for Jeff -Davis, unt treat all around. It was a fool thing, but it scared me -worse'n anything else, unt I resolved to get out of there unt go where -the people read their Bibles unt the newspapers." - -"How did you manage to keep Gen. Curtis posted as to the number of -rebels in front of him?" asked Si. "You couldn't always be running back -and forth from one army to the other." - -"O, that was easy enough. You see. General56 Curtis was advancing, unt -the rebels falling back most of the time. There was cabins every little -ways along the road. All these have great big fireplaces, built of -smooth rocks, which they pick up out of the creek unt wherever they can -find them. - -"I'd go into these houses unt talk with the people unt play with the -children. I'd sit by the fire unt pick up a dead coal unt mark on these -smooth rocks. Sometimes I'd draw horses unt wagons unt men to amuse the -children. Sometimes I'd talk to the old folks about how long they'd been -in the country, how many bears unt deers the man had killed, how far it -was to the next place, how the roads run, unt so on, unt I'd make marks -on the jam of the fireplace to help me understand. - -"The next day our scouts would come in unt see the marks unt understand -them just as well as if I'd wrote them a letter. I fixed it all up with -them before I left camp. I kin draw very well with a piece of charcoal. -I'd make pictures of men what would make the children unt old folks open -their eyes. Our scouts would understand which one meant Ben McCullough, -which one Van Dorn, which one Pap Price, unt so on. Other marks would -show which way each one was going unt how many men he hat with him. The -rebels never dropt on to it, but they came so close to it once or twice -that my hair stood on end." - -"That curly mop of yours'd have a time standing on end," ventured -Shorty. "I should think it'd twist your neck off tryin' to." - -"Well, something gave me a queer feeling about the throat one day when I -saw a rebel Colonel stop57 unt look very hard at a long letter which I'd -wrote this way on a rock. - -"'Who done that?' he asked. - -"'This man here,' says the old woman, 'He done it while he was gassing -with the old man unt fooling with the children. Lot o' pesky nonsense, -marking up de walls dat a-way.' - -"'Looks like very systematic nonsense,' said the Colonel very stern unt -sour. 'There may be something in it. Did you do this?' said he, turning -to me. - -"'Yes, sir,' said I, 'I have a bad habit of marking when I'm talking. I -always done it, even when I was a child. My mother used to often slap me -for spoiling the walls, but she could never break me of it.' - -"'Humph,' said he, not at all satisfied with my story, unt looking at -the scratches harder than ever. 'Who are you, unt what are you doing -here?' - -"I told him my story about buying Mexican silver dollars, unt showed him -a lot of the dollars I'd bought. - -"'Your story ain't reasonable,' said he. 'You haven't done bizniss -enough to pay you for all the time you've spent around the army. I'll -put you under guard till I can look into your case.' - -"He called to the Sergeant of the Guard, unt ordered him to take charge -of me. The Sergeant was that same dirty loafer. Bob Smiles, that I had -the trouble with by Wilson's Creek. He kicked me unt pounded me, unt put -me on my horse, with my hands tied behind me, unt my feet tied under the -horse's belly. I was almost dead by night, when we reached Headquarters. -They gave me something to58 eat, unt I laid down on the floor of the -cabin, wishing I was Pontius Pilate, so that I could crucify every man -in the Southern Confedrisy, especially Bob Smiles. An hour or two later -I heard Bob Smiles swearing again." - -The Spy in Custody. 58 - -"'Make out the names of all the prisoners I have,' he was saying, 'with -where they belong unt the charges against them. I can't. Do they take me -for a counter-jumping clerk? I didn't come into the army to be a white- -faced bookkeeper, I sprained59 my thumb the other day, unt I can't write -even a Httle bit. What am I to do?' - -"That was all moonshine about his spraining his thumb. He vas ignorant -as a jackass. If he had 40 thumbs he couldn't write even his own name -so's anybody could read it. - -"'I don't believe these's a man in a mile of here that can make out such -a list,' he went on. They're all a set of hominy-eating blockheads. -Perhaps that hook-nosed Jew might. He's the man. I'll make him do it, or -break his swindling head.' - -"He come in, kicked me, unt made me get up, unt then took me out unt set -me down at a table, where he had paper, pen unt ink, unt ordered me to -take down the names of the prisoners as he brought them up. He'd look -over my shoulder as I wrote, as if he was reading what I set down, but I -knowed that he couldn't make out a letter. I was tempted to write all -sorts of things about him, but I didn't, for I was in enough trouble -already. When I come to my own name, he said: - -"'Make de charge a spy, a thief, unt a Dutch traitor to the Southern -Confedrisy.' - -"I just wrote: 'Levi Rosenbaum, Memphis, Tenn. Merchant. No charge.' - -"He scowled very wisely at it, unt pretended to read it, unt said: - -"'It's lucky for you that you wrote it just as I told you. I'd 'a' broke -every bone in your body if you hadn't.' - -"I'd just got done when an officer come down from Headquarters for it. -He looked it over unt said: - -"'Who made this out?' - -"'Why, I made it out,' said Bob Smiles, bold as brass. - -"'But who wrote it?" said de officer. - -"'O, I sprained my thumb, so I couldn't write very well, unt I made a -Jew prisoner copy it,' said Bob Smiles. - -"'It's the best writing I have seen,' said the officer. 'I want the man -what wrote it to go with me to Headquarters at once. I have some copying -there to be done at once, unt not one of them corn-crackers that I have -up there can write anything fit to read. Bring that man out here unt I -will take him with me." - -"Bob Smiles hated to let me go, but he couldn't help himself, unt I went -with the officer. I was so tired I could hardly move a step, unt I felt -I could not write a word. But I seemed to see a chance at Headquarters, -unt I determined to make every effort to do something. They gave me a -stiff horn of whisky unt set me to work. They wanted me to make out unt -copy a consolidated report of the army. - -"I almost forgot I was tired when I found out what they wanted, for I -saw a chance to get something of great value. They'd been trying to make -up a report from all sorts of scraps unt sheets of paper sent in from -the different Headquarters, unt they had spoiled a half-dozen big sheets -of paper after they'd got them partly done. If I do say it myself, I can -write better and faster and figure quicker than most any man you ever -saw. Those rebels thought they had got hold of a wonder—a61 lightning -calculator unt lightning penman together. - -"As fast as I could copy one paper, unt it would prove to be all right, -I would fold it up unt stick it into a big yaller envelope. I also -folded up the spoiled reports, unt stuck them in the envelope, saying -that I wanted to get rid of them—put them where seeing them wouldn't -bother me. I carefully slipped the envelope under the edge of a pile of -papers near the edge of the table. I had another big yaller envelope -that looked just like it lying in the middle of the table, into which I -stuck papers that didn't amount to nothing. I was very slick about it, -unt didn't let them see that I had two envelopes. - -"It was past midnight when I got the consolidated report made out, unt -the rebels was tickled to death with it. They'd never seen anything so -well done before. They wanted a copy made to keep, unt I said I'd make -one, though I was nearly dead for sleep. I really wasn't, for the -excitement made me forget all about being tired. - -"I was determined, before I slept, to have that yellow envelope, with -all those papers, in General Curtis's hands, though he was 40 miles -away. How in the world I was going to do it I could not think, but I was -going to do it, if I died a trying. The first thing was to get that -envelope off the table into my clothes; the next, to get out of that -cabin, away from Bob Smiles unt his guards, through the rebel lines, unt -over the mountains to General Curtis's camp. It was a dark, windy night, -unt things were in confusion about the camp—just the kind of a time -when62 anybody might kill a Jew pedler, unt no questions would be asked. - -"I had got the last copy finished, unt the officers was going over it. -They had their heads together, not 18 inches from me, across the table. -I had my fingers on the envelope, but I didn't dare slip it out, though -my fingers itched. I was in hopes that they'd turn around, or do -something that'd give me a chance. - -"Suddenly Bob Smiles opened the door wide, unt walked in, with a -dispatch in his hand. The wind swept in, blew the candles out, unt sent -de papers flying about the room. Some went into the fire. The officers -yelled unt swore at him, unt he shut the door, but I had the envelope in -my breast-pocket. - -"Then to get away. How in the name of Moses unt the ten commandments was -I to do that? - -"One of the officers said to Bob Smiles: 'Take this man away unt take -good care of him until to-morrow. We'll want him again. Give him a good -bed, unt plenty to eat, unt treat him well. We'll need him to-morrow.' - -"'Come on, you pork-hating Jew,' said Bob Smiles crabbedly. 'I'll give -you a mess of spare-ribs unt corn-dodgers for supper.' - -"'You'll do nothing of the kind,' said the officer. 'I told you to treat -him well, unt if you don't treat him well, I'll see about it. Give him a -bed in that house where de orderlies stay.' - -"Bob Smiles grumbled unt swore at me, unt we vent out, but there was -nothing to do but to obey orders. He give me a good place, unt some -coffee unt bread, unt I lay down pretending to go to sleep.63 - -"I snored away like a good feller, unt presently I heard some one come -in. I looked a little out the corner of my eye, unt see by the light of -the fire that Bob Smiles was sneaking back. He watched me for a minute, -unt then put his hand on me. - -"I was scared as I never was, for I thought he vas after my precious -yaller envelope. But I thought of my bowie knife, which I always carried -out of sight in my bosom, unt resolved dat I vould stick it in his -heart, if he tried to take away my papers. But I never moved. He felt -over me until he come to de pocket where I had the silver dollars, unt -then slipped his fingers in, unt pulled them out one by one, just as -gently as if he vas smoothing the hair of a cat. I let him take them -all, without moving a muscle. I was glad to haf him take them. I knowed -that he was playing poker somewhere, unt had run out of cash, unt would -take my money unt go back to his game. - -"As soon as I heard his footsteps disappear in the distance, I got up -unt sneaked down to where the Headquarters horses were tied. I must get -a fresh one, because my own vas played nearly out. He would never do to -carry me over the rough roads I must ride before morning. But when I got -there I saw a guard pacing up unt down in front of them. I had not -counted on this, unt for a minit my heart stood still. There were no -other horses anywheres around. - -"I hesitated, looked up at Headquarters, unt saw de lights still -burning, unt made up my mind at once to risk everything on one desperate -chance. I remembered that I had put in my envelope some64 blank sheets -of paper, with Headquarters, Army of the Frontier,' unt a rebel flag on -dem. There was a big fire burning ofer to the right mit no one near. I -went up in de shadow of a tree, where I could see by the firelight, took -out one of the sheets of paper unt wrote on it an order to have a horse -saddled for me at once. Then I slipped back so that it would look as if -I was coming straight from Headquarters, unt walked up to the guard unt -handed him the order. He couldn't read a word, but he recognized the -heading on the paper, unt I told him the rest. He thought there was -nothing for him to do but obey. - -"While he was getting the horse I wrote out, by the fire, a pass for -myself through the guards. I was in a hurry, you bet, unt it was all -done mighty quick, unt I was on the horse's back unt started. I had lost -all direction, but I knowed that I had to go generally to the northeast -to get to General Curtis. But I got confused again, unt found I was -riding around unt around the camp without getting out at all. I even -come up again near the big fire, just where I wrote out the pass. - -"Just then what should I hear but Bob Smiles's voice. He had lost all -his money—all my money—at poker, unt was damning the fellers he had been -playing with as cheats. He was not in a temper to meet, unt I knowed he -would see me if I went by the big fire; but I was desperate, unt I stuck -the spurs into my horse unt he shot ahead. I heard Bob Smiles yell: - -"'There is that Jew. Where is he going? Halt, there! Stop him!'65 - -"I knowed that if I stopped now I would be hung sure. The only safety -was to go as fast as I could. I dashed away, where, I didn't know. -Directly a guard halted me, but I showed him my pass, unt he let me go -on. While he was looking at it I strained my ears, unt could hear horses -galloping my way. I knowed it was Bob Smiles after me. My horse was a -good one, unt I determined to get on the main road unt go as fast as I -could. I could see by the campfires that I was now getting away from the -army, unt I began to hope that I was going north. I kept my horse -running. - -"Pretty soon the pickets halted me, but I didn't stop to answer them. I -just bolted ahead. The chances of their shooting me wasn't as dreadful -as of Bob Smiles catching me. They fired at me, but I galloped right -through them, unt through a rain of bullets that they sent after me. I -felt better then, for I was confident I was out in the open country, but -I kept my horse on the run. It seemed to me that I went a hundred miles. - -"Just as the day was breaking in the east, I heard a voice, with a -strong German accent call out the brush: - -"'Halt! Who comes there?' - -Rosenbaum Runs Into Sigel's Pickets. 66 - -"I was so glad that I almost fainted, for I knowed that I'd reached -General Sigel's pickets. I couldn't get my lips to answer. - -"There came a lot of shots, unt one of them struck my horse in the head, -unt he fell in the road, throwing me over his head. The pickets run out -unt picked me up. The German language sounded the sweetest I ever heard -it.66 - -"As soon as I could make myself talk, I answered them in German, unt -told them who I was. Then they couldn't do enough for me. They helped me -back to where they could get an ambulance, in which they sent me to -Headquarters, for I was top weak to ride or walk a step. I handed my -yellow envelope to General Curtis, got a dram of whisky to keep me up -while I answered his questions, unt then went to67 sleep, unt slept -through the whole battle of Pea Ridge. - -"After the battle, General Curtis wanted to know how much he ought to -pay me, but I told him that all I wanted was to serve the country, unt I -was already paid many times over, by helping him win a victory. - -"But I concluded that there was too much Bob Smiles in that country for -me, unt I had better leave for some parts where I was not likely to meet -him. So I crossed the Mississippi River, unt joined General Rosecrans's -Headquarters." - - - - - -CHAPTER V. THE BOYS GO SPYING ON AN EXPEDITION WITH ROSENBAUM THEY MAKE -A CAPTURE. - -MR. ROSENBAUM'S stories of adventure were not such as to captivate the -boys with the career of a spy. But the long stay in camp was getting -very tedious, and they longed for something to break the monotony of -camp guard and work on the interminable fortifications. Therefore, when -Mr. Rosenbaum came over one morning with a proposition to take them out -on an expedition, he found them ready to go. He went to Regimental -Headquarters, secured a detail for them, and, returning to the Hoosier's -Rest, found the boys lugubriously pulling over a pile of homespun -garments they had picked up among the teamsters and campfollowers. - -"I suppose we've got to wear 'em, Shorty," said Si, looking very -disdainfully at a butternut-colored coat and vest. "But I'd heap rather -wear a mustard plaster. I'd be a heap comfortabler." - -"I ain't myself finicky about clothes," answered Shorty. "I ain't no -swell—never was. But somehow I've got a prejudice in favor of blue as a -color, and agin gray and brown. I only like gray and brown on a corpse. -They make purty grave clothes. I always like to bury a man what has -butternut clothes on."69 - -"What are you doing with them dirty rags, boys?" asked Rosenbaum, in -astonishment, as he surveyed the scene. - -"Why, we've got to wear 'em, haven't we, if we go out with you?" asked -Si. - -"You wear them when you go out with me—you disguise yourselves," said -Rosenbaum, with fine scorn. "You'd play the devil in disguise. You can't -disguise your tongues. That's the worst. Anybody'd catch on to that -Indianny lingo first thing. You've got to speak like an educated -man—speak like I do—to keep people from finding out where you're from. I -speak correct English always. Nobody can tell where I'm from." - -The boys had hard work controlling their risibles over Mr. Rosenbaum's -self-complacency. - -"What clothes are we to wear, then?" asked Si, much puzzled. - -"Wear what you please; wear the clothes you have on, or anything else. -This is not to be a full-dress affair. Gentlemen can attend in their -working clothes if they want to." - -"I don't understand," mumbled Si. - -"Of course, you don't," said Rosenbaum gaily. "If you did, you would -know as much as I do, unt I wouldn't have no advantage." - -"All right," said Shorty. "We've decided to go it blind. Go ahead. Fix -it up to suit yourself. We are your huckleberries for anything that you -kin turn up. It all goes in our $13 a month." - -"O. K.," answered Rosenbaum. "That's the right way. Trust me, unt I will -bring you out all straight. Now, let me tell you something. When you70 -captured me, after a hard struggle, as you remember (and he gave as much -of a wink as his prominent Jewish nose would admit), I was an officer on -General Roddey's staff. It was, unt still is, my business to keep up -express lines by which the rebels are supplied with quinine, medicines, -gun-caps, letters, giving information, unt other things. Unt I do it." - -The boys opened their eyes wide, and could not restrain an exclamation -of surprise. - -"Now, hold your horses; don't get excited," said Rosenbaum calmly. "You -don't know as much about war as I do—not by a hundred per cent. These -things are always done in every war, unt General Rosecrans understands -the tricks of war better as any man in the army. He beats them all when -it comes to getting information about the enemy. He knows that a dog -that fetches must carry, unt that the best way is to let a spy take a -little to the enemy, unt bring a good deal back. - -"The trouble at the battle of Stone River was that the spies took more -to General Bragg than they brought to General Rosecrans. But General -Rosecrans was new to the work then. It won't be so in future. He knows a -great deal more about the rebels now than they know about him, thanks to -such men as me." - -"I don't know as we ought to have anything to do with this, Shorty," -said Si dubiously. "At least, we ought to inquire of the Colonel first." - -"That's all right—that's all right," said Rosenbaum quickly. "I've got -the order from the Colonel which will satisfy you. Read it yourself." - -He handed the order to Si, who looked carefully71 at the printed -heading, "Headquarters, 200th Ind., near Murfreesboro', Tenn.," and then -read the order aloud to Shorty: "Corporal Josiah Klegg and one private, -whom he may select, will report to Mr. Levi Rosenbaum for special duty, -and will obey such orders and instructions as he may give, and on return -report to these Headquarters. By order of the Colonel. Philip Blake, -Adjutant." - -"That seems all straight. Shorty," said Si, folding up the order, and -putting it in his pocket. - -"Straight as a string," assented Shorty. "I'm ready, anyway. Go ahead, -Mr. Cheap Clothing. I don't care much what it is, so long's it ain't -shovelin' and diggin' on the fortifications. I'll go down to Tullahoma -and pull old Bragg out of his tent rather than handle a pick and shovel -any longer." - -"Well, as I was going to tell you, I have been back to Tullahoma several -times since you captured me, unt I have got the express lines between -here unt there running pretty well. I have to tell them all sorts of -stories how I got away from the Yankees. Luckily, I have a pretty good -imagination, unt can furnish them with first-class narratives. - -"But there is one feller on the staff that I'm afraid of. His name is -Poke Bolivar, unt he is a terrible feller, I tell you. Always full of -fight, unt desperate when he gets into a fight. I've seen him bluff all -those other fellers. He is a red-hot Secessionist, unt wants to kill -every Yankee in the country. Of late he has seemed very suspicious of -me, unt has said lots of things that scared me. I want to settle him, -either kill him or take him prisoner, unt keep him away, so's I can feel -greater ease when I'm in72 General Bragg's camp. I can't do that so long -as I know he's around, for I feel that his eyes are on me, unt that he's -hunting some way to trip me up. - -"I'm going out now to meet him, at a house about five miles from the -lines. I have my pockets unt the pockets on my saddles full of letters -unt things. Just outside the lines I will get some more. He will meet me -unt we will go back to Tullahoma together—that is, if he don't kill me -before we get there. I have brought a couple of revolvers, in addition -to your guns, for Poke Bolivar's a terrible feller to fight, unt I want -you to make sure of him. I'd take more'n two men out, but I'm afraid -he'd get on to so many. - -"I guess we two kin handle him," said Shorty, slipping his belt into the -holster of the revolver and buckling it on. "Give us a fair show at him, -and we don't want no help. I wouldn't mind having it out with Mr. -Bolivar all by myself." - -"Well, my plan is for you to go out by yourselves to that place where -you were on picket. Then take the right-hand road through the creek -bottom, as if you were going foraging. About two miles from the creek -you will see a big hewed-log house standing on the left of the road. You -will know it by its having brick outside chimneys, unt de doors painted -blue unt yaller. There's no other house in that country like it. - -"You're to keep out of sight as much as you can. Directly you will see -me come riding out, follered by a nigger riding another horse. I will go -up to the house, jump off, tie my horse, go inside, unt presently come -out unt tie a white cloth to73 a post on the porch. That will be a -signal to Poke Bolivar, who will be watching from the hill a mile ahead. -You will see him come in, get off his horse, unt go into the house. - -"By this time it will be dark, or nearly so. You slip up as quietly as -you can, right by the house, hiding yourselves behind the lilacs. If the -dogs run at you bayonet them. You can look through the windows, unt see -me unt Bolivar sitting by the fire talking, unt getting ready to start -for Tullahoma as soon as the nigger who is cooking our supper in the -kitchen outside gets it ready unt we eat it. You can wait till you see -us sit down to eat supper, unt then jump us. Better wait until we are -pretty near through supper, for I'll be very hungry, unt want all I can -get to keep me up for my long ride. - -"You run in unt order us to surrender. I'll jump up unt blaze away with -my revolver, but you needn't pay much attention to me—only be careful -not to shoot me. While you are 'tending to Bolivar I'll get on my horse -unt skip out. You can kill Bolivar, or take him back to camp with you, -or do anything that you please, so long's you keep him away from -Tullahoma. You understand, now?" - -"Perfectly," said Shorty. "I think we can manage it, and it looks like a -pretty good arrangement. You are to git away, and we're to git Mr. -Bolivar. Those two things are settled. Any change in the evening's -program will depend on Mr. Bolivar. If he wants a fight he kin git whole -gobs of it." - -Going over the plan again, to make sure that the boys understood it, and -cautioning them once more as to the sanguinary character of Polk -Bolivar,74 Mr. Rosenbaum started for his horse. He had gone but a little -ways when he came back with his face full of concern. - -"I like you boys better than I can tell you," he said, taking their -hands affectionately, "unt I never would forgive myself if you got hurt. -Do you think that two of you'll be able to manage Poke Bolivar? If -you're not sure I'll get another man to help you. I think that I had -better, anyway." - -"O, go along with you," said Shorty scornfully. "Don't worry about us -and Mr. Bolivar. I'd stack Si Klegg up against any man that ever wore -gray, in any sort of a scrimmage he could put up, and I'm a better man -than Si. You just favor us with a meeting with Mr. Bolivar, and then git -out o' the way. If it wasn't for dividing up fair with my partner here -I'd go out by myself and tackle Mr. Bolivar. You carry out your share of -the plan, and don't worry about us." - -Rosenbaum's countenance brightened, and he hastened to mount and away. -The boys shouldered their guns and started out for the long walk. They -followed Rosenbaum's directions carefully, and arrived in sight of the -house, which they recognized at once, and got into a position from which -they could watch its front. Presently they saw Rosenbaum come riding -along the road and stop in front of the house. He tied his horse to a -scraggy locust tree, went in, and then reappeared and fastened the -signal to a post supporting the roof of the porch. - -Watching the House. 75 - -They had not long to wait for the answer. Soon a horseman was seen -descending from the distant hill. As he came near he was anxiously -scanned,75 and appeared a cavalier so redoubtable as to fully justify -Rosenbaum's apprehensions. He was a tall, strongly-built young man, who -sat on his spirited horse with easy and complete mastery of him. Even at -that distance it could be seen that he was heavily armed. - -"Looks like a genuine fighter, and no mistake," said Si, examining the -caps on his revolver. "He'll be a stiff one to tackle."76 - -"We must be very careful not to let him get the drop on us," said -Shorty. "He looks quicker'n lightnin', and I've no doubt that he kin -shoot like Dan'l Boone. We might drop him from here with our guns," he -added suggestively. - -"No," said Si, "that wouldn't be fair. And it wouldn't be the way -Rosenbaum wants it done. He's got his reasons for the other way. -Besides, I'd be a great deal better satisfied in my mind, if I could -have it out with him, hand-to-hand. It'd sound so much better in the -regiment." - -"Guess that's so," assented Shorty. "Well, let's sneak up to the house." - -When they got close to the house they saw that it had been deserted; -there were no dogs or other domestic animals about, and this allowed -them to get under the shade of the lilacs without discovery. The only -inmates were Rosenbaum and Bolivar, who were seated before a fire, which -Rosenbaum had built in the big fireplace in the main room. The negro was -busy cooking supper in the outbuilding which served as a kitchen. The -glass was broken out the window, and they could hear the conversation -between Rosenbaum and Bolivar. - -It appeared that Rosenbaum had been making a report of his recent -doings, to which Bolivar listened with a touch of disdain mingled with -suspicion. - -The negro brought in the supper, and the men ate it sitting by the fire. - - -077 (80K) - -"I declare," said Bolivar, stopping with a piece of bread and meat in -one hand and a tin-cup of coffee in the other, "that for a man who is -devoted to the77 South you can mix up with these Yankees with less -danger to yourself and to them than any man I ever knew. You never get -hurt, and you never hurt any of them. That's a queer thing for a -soldier. War means hurting people, and getting hurt yourself. It means -taking every chance to hurt some of the enemy. I never miss any -opportunity of killing a Yankee, no matter what I may be doing, or what -the risk is to me. I can't help myself. Whenever I see a Yankee in range -I let him have it. I never go near their lines without killing at -least78 one." - -Shorty's thumb played a little with his gunlock, but Si restrained him -with a look. - -"Well," said Rosenbaum, "I hates the enemy as badly as any one can, but -I always have business more important at the time than killing men. I -want to get through with what I have to do, unt let other men do the -killing. There's enough gentlemen like you for that work." - -"No, there's not enough," said Bolivar savagely. "It's treasonable for -you to say so. Our enemies outnumber us everywhere. It is the duty of -every true Southern man to kill them off at every chance, like he would -rattlesnakes and wolves. You are either not true to the South, or you -hain't the right kind of grit. Why, you have told me yourself that you -let two Yankees capture you, without firing a shot. Think of it; a -Confederate officer captured by two Yankee privates, without firing a -shot." - -"They had the dead drop on me," murmured Rosenbaum. "If I had moved -they'd killed me sure." - -"Dead drop on you!" repeated Bolivar scornfully. "Two men with muskets -have the dead drop on you! And you had a carbine and a revolver. Why, I -have ridden into a nest of 10 or 15 Yankees, who had me covered with -their guns. I killed three of them, wounded three others, and run the -rest away with my empty revolver. If I'd had another revolver, not one -would've got away alive. I always carry two revolvers now." - -"I think our guns'll be in the way in that room," said Shorty, sotting -his down. His face bore a look of stern determination. "They're too -long. I'm itching to have it out with that feller hand-to-hand.79 We'll -rush in. You pretend to be goin' for Rosenbaum and leave me to have it -out with Mr. Bolivar. Don't you mix in at all. If I don't settle him he -ought to be allowed to go." - -"No," said Si decisively. "I'm your superior officer, and it's my -privilege to have the first shy at him. I'll 'tend to him. I want a -chance singlehanded at a man that talks that way. You take care of -Rosenbaum." - -"We mustn't dispute," said Shorty, stooping down and picking up a couple -of straws. "Here, pull. The feller that gits the longest 'tends to -Bolivar; the other to Rosenbaum." - -Si drew and left the longer straw in Shorty's hand. They drew their -revolvers and rushed for the room, Shorty leading, Rosenbaum and Bolivar -sprang up in alarm at the sound of their feet on the steps, and drew -their revolvers. - -"Surrender, you infernal rebels," shouted the boys, as they bolted -through the door. - -With the quickness of a cat, Rosenbaum had sidled near the door through -which they had come. Suddenly he fired two shots into the ceiling, and -sprang through the door so quickly that Si had merely the chance to fire -a carefully-aimed shot through the top of his hat. Si jumped toward the -door again, and fired a shot in the air, for still further make-believe. -He would waste no more, but reserve the other four for Bolivar, if he -should need them. - -Shorty confronted Bolivar with fierce eyes and leveled revolver, eagerly -watching every movement and expression. The rebel was holding his pistol -pointed upward, and his eyes looked savage. As his eyes met Shorty's the -latter was amazed to see him close the left with a most emphatic wink. -Seeing this was recognized, the rebel fired two shots into the ceiling, -and motioned with his left hand to Si to continue firing. Without quite -understanding. Si fired again. The rebel gave a terrific yell and fired -a couple of shots out the window. - -"Do the same," he said to Shorty, who complied, as Si had done, in half- -comprehension. The rebel handed his revolver to Shorty, stepped to the -window and listened. - -The Surprise 79 - -There came the sounds of two horses galloping away on the hard, rocky -road. - -"He's gone, and taken the nigger with him," he said contentedly, turning -from the window, and giving another fierce yell. "Better fire the other -two shots out of that pistol, to hurry him along." - -Shorty fired the remaining shots out of the rebel's revolver. - -"What regiment do you belong to, boys?" asked Bolivar calmly. - -"The 200th Ind.," answered Si, without being able to control his -surprise. - -"A very good regiment," said the rebel. "What's your company?" - -"Co. Q," answered Si. - -"Who's your Colonel?" - -"Col. Duckworth." - -"Who's your Captain?" - -"Capt. McGillicuddy." - -"All right," said the rebel, with an air of satisfaction. "I asked those -questions to make sure you were genuine Yankees. One can't be too -careful in my business. I'm in the United States Secret Service, and -have to be constantly on the watch to keep it from being played on me by -men pretending to be Yankees when they are rebels, and rebels when they -are Yankees. I always make it the first point to ask them the names of -their officers. I know almost all the officers in command on both -sides." - -"You in the Secret Service?" exploded the boys.82 - -They were on the point of adding "too," but something whispered to them -not to betray Rosenbaum. - -"Yes," answered Bolivar. "I've just come from Tullahoma, where I've been -around Bragg's Headquarters. I wanted to get inside our lines, but I was -puzzled how to do it. That Jew you've just run off bothered me. I wish -to the Lord you'd killed him. I'm more afraid of him than any other man -in Bragg's army. He's smart as a briar, always nosing around where you -don't want him, and anxious to do something to commend him to -Headquarters, Jew like. I've thought he suspected me, for he'd been -paying special attention to me for some weeks. Two or three times I've -been on the point of tailing him into the woods somewhere and killing -him, and so get rid of him. It's all right now. He'll go back to -Tullahoma with a fearful story of the fight I made against you, and that -I am probably killed. I'll turn up there in a week or two with my own -story, and I'll give him fits for having skipped out and left me to -fight you two alone. Say, it's a good ways to camp. Let's start at once, -for I want to get to Headquarters as soon as possible." - -"You've got another revolver there," said Si, who had prudently reloaded -his own weapon. - -"That's so," said Bolivar, pulling it out. "You can take and carry it or -I'll take the cylinder out, if you are not convinced about me." - -"You'd better let me carry it," said Shorty, shoving the revolver in his -own belt. "These are queer times, and one can't be too careful with -rebels who83 claim to be Yankees, and Yankees who claim to be rebels." - -They trudged back to camp, taking turns riding the horse. When the rebel -rode, however, one of the boys walked alongside with the bridle in his -hand. All doubts as to Bolivar's story were dispelled by his instant -recognition by the Provost-Marshal, who happened to be at the picket- -post when they reached camp. - -"The longer I live," remarked Shorty, as they made their way along to -the Hoosier's Rest, "and I seem to live a little longer every day, the -less I seem to understand about this war." - -Shorty spoke as if he had had an extensive acquaintance with wars. - -"The only thing that I've come to be certain about," assented Si, "is -that you sometimes most always can't generally tell." - -And they proceeded to get themselves some supper, accompanying the work -of denunciations of the Commissary for the kind of rations he was -drawing for the regiment, and of the Orderly-Sergeant for his letting -the other Orderlies eucher him out of the company's fair share. - - - - - -CHAPTER VI. LETTER FROM HOME THE DEACON'S TROUBLES IN GETTING HOME WITH -ABRAHAM LINCOLN. - -ONE MORNING the Orderly-Sergeant handed Si the following letter: - -Deer Son: I got hoam safely a weke ago, thanks 2 all-protecting -Providens; likewise 2 about 175 pound of tuff & helthy Josiah Klegg. -Providens helpt rite along, but it tuk 50-year-old Injianny hickory & -whit-leather 2 pull through sum ov the tite plasis. - -Abraham Lincoln is as strong as an ox, but I never thought that anything -that diddent wear horns or chew the cud could be so measly dumb. He kin -eat as much as Buck, our off-steer, & I declare I don't believe he knows -any more. - -We had only bin on the train long enuff for Abe to finish up the whole -of the 3 days rations you provided us with 2 last us home, when I notist -that Blowhard Billings was on board. He was still dressed in full -uniform, & playin off officer yit, but I happened 2 recolleck that he -was no officer no more, & it wuz lucky that I done so. He wuz lookin at -me & Abe hard with them mean, fatfish ize ov hizn. - -Jest as a matter ov precaushon. I make Abe change seats with me & taik -the inside. Billings85 caim up. You know what I thought ov him ov old, & -there's never bin any love lost betwixt us sence I stopped him cheatin -poor Eli Mitchell outen his plow-team. I told him then that the coppers -on a dead nigger's eyes wuzzent saif when he wuz around, & I woulddent -trust him ez fur ez I could sling a bull by the tale. He got mad at this -& never got over it. I never encouraged him to. I woulddent feel -satisfied with myself if he wuzzent mad at me. I coulddent change my -opinion, even when he tried to steal into respectability by goin into -the army. I knowed he'd do anything but fite, & woulddent've bin -supprized any day by hearing that him and the other mules in camp had -disappeared together. - -Presently Billings he cum up very corjil like & says: - -"Howdy, Deacon. I hope you air very well." - -I told him I wuz tollable peart, and he says: - -"I see a man in the third car forward that wuz inquiring for you, and -wanted to see you powerful bad." - -"That so?" says I, unconcernedlike. - -"Yes," says he. "He wuz awful anxious to see you, and I said I'd send -you to him if I cum acrost you." - -Somehow, I dropped onto it in a minnit that he wuz schemin' to git me -away from Abraham Lincoln— - -"Well," says I, "it's about ez fur for me forward to him as it is for -him back here to me. I don't know as I want to see him at all. If he -wants to see me so bad let him cum back here."86 - -"I think I'd go forward and see him," said Billings, sort ov impatient- -like. "You'll have no trouble finding him. He's in the third car from -here, up at the front end, right-hand side, next to the watercooler. He -inquired most partickerlerly for you." - -"Probably he wants 2 borry money," says I, without stirrin'. "Men that -want particularly 2 see me always do. Well, I hain't got none 2 -lend—hain't got no more'n 'll talk me hoam." - -"You'd better go forward & see him," he said very bossy like, as if he -was orderin me. - -"I'd better stay right here, & I'm goin' to stay," says I, so decided -that Billings see that it was no use. - -His patience gave clean away. - -"Look here, Klegg," said he, mad as a hornet, "I'm after that ere nigger -you're trying to steal away into Injianny, and by the holy poker I'm -goin' to have him! Come along here, you black ape," and he laid his hand -on Abe Lincoln's collar. Abe showed the white ov his eyes as big as -buckeyes, put his arm around the piece betwixt the winders, and held on -for deer life. I see by the grip he tuk that the only way 2 git him wuz -2 tear out the side of the car, and I thought I'd let them tussle it out -for a minnit or 2. - -The others in the car who thought it grate fun to see a Lieutenant- -Kurnol wrastlin' with a nigger, laffed and yelled: - -"Go it, nigger," - -"Go it, Kurnel," - -"Grab a root," - -"I'l bet on the nigger if the car is stout onuf,"87 and sich. Jest then -Groundhog cum runnin' up to help Billings, and reached over and ketched -Abe, but I hit him a good biff with the musket that changed his mind. -Billings turned on me, and called out to the others: - -"Men, I order you to arrest this man and tie him up." - -Sum ov them seemed a-mind to obey, but I sung out: - -"Feller-citizens, he ain't no officer—no more'n I am. He ain't got no -right to wear shoulder-straps, and he knows it as well as I do." - -At this they all turned agin him & began yellin at him 2 put his head in -a bag. He turned 2 me savage as a meat-ax, but I ketched him by the -throat, & bent him back over the seat. The Provo-Guard cum up, & I -explained it 2 them, & showed my passes for me & Abe. So they made us -all sit down & keep quiet. - -Bimeby we got to Nashville. Abe Lincoln wuz hungry, & I stopped 2 git -him something to eat. My gracious, the lot ov ham & aigs at 50 cents a -plate & sandwiches at 25 cents a piece that contraband kin eat. He never -seemed 2 git full. He looked longingly at the pies, but I let him look. -I wuzzent runnin no Astor House in connexion with the Freedmen's buro. - -We walked through the city, crost on the ferry, & wuz jest gittin in the -cars which wuz about ready 2 start, when up comes Billings agin, with 2 -or 3 other men in citizen's cloze. One ov these claps his hand on my -shoulder & says: - -"I'm a Constable, & I arrest you in the name ov88 the State ov Tennessee -for abductin a slave. Make no trubble, but come along with me." - -I jest shook him off, & clumb onto the platform, pullin Abe after me. -The Constable & his men follered us, but I got Abe Lincoln inside the -door, shet it & made him put his shoulders agin it. The Constable & his -2 assistants wuz buttin away at it, & me grinnin at them when the train -pulled off, & they had 2 jump off. I begin 2 think there wuz something -good in Abe Lincoln, after all, & when we stopped at an eatin-plais, -about half-way 2 Louisville, & Abe looked at the grub as if he haddent -had a mouthful sence the war begun, I busted a $2-bill all 2 pieces -gittin' him a little supper. If I wuz goin into the bizniss ov freein -slaves I'd want 2 have a mule train haulin grub follering me at every -step. - -Abe wuz awful hungry agin when we reached Louisville, but I found a -place where a dollar would buy him enuf pork & beans 2 probably last him -over the river. - -But I begun 2 be efeard that sum nosin pryin Mike Medler might make -trubble in gitting Abe safely acrost the Ohio. I tuk him 2 a house, & -laid it down strong 2 him that he must stay inside all day, and 2 make -sure I bargained with the woman 2 keep him eating as much as she could. -I ruined a $5 bill, & even then Abe looked as if he could hold some -more. I've always made it a pint 2 lend 2 the Lord for the benefit ov -the heathen as much as my means would allow, but I begun 2 think that my -missionary contribushions this year would beat what I was layin out on -my family.89 - -After it got dark, me & Abe meandered down through the streets 2 the -ferry. There wuzzent many people out, except soljers, & I've got 2 feel -purty much at home with them. They seem more likely 2 think more nearly -my way than folks in every-day clothes. - -There wuz quite a passel ov soljers on the wharf boat waitin' for the -ferry when we got there. They saw at wuns that I had probably bin down 2 -the front 2 see my son, & sum ov them axed me 2 what rigiment he -belonged. When I told them the 200th Injianny Volunteer Infantry they -all made friends with me at wunst, for they said they knowed it wuz a -good rigiment. - -Bimeby a big, important-lookin' man, with a club with a silver head for -a cane, cum elbowin through the crowd & scowling at everybody as if he -owned the wharf-boat & all on it. He stopped in frunt ov Abraham Lincoln -& says very sharp & cross: - -"Boy, where did you come from?" - -Abe diddent say nothin'. His ize got all white, he grinned sort ov -scared like, showed his white teeth, & looked sickly over at me. I spoke -up & says: - -"I brung him along with me from Murfreesboro'." - -"So I sposed," said he. "He's a slave you're tryin 2 steal from his -master. You can't do it. I'll jest take charge ov him myself. That's my -dooty here," & he ketched hold ov Abraham Lincoln's collar. Abe, in his -scare, put out his arms to ketch hold ov something, & throwed them -around the big important man, & lifted him clean offen his feet. I never -before realized how strong Abe wuz. The soljers gethered around, purty -mad, and then laffin and90 yellin when they see the man in Abe's arms. -Suddenly sum one hollered: - -"Throw him overboard; throw him in the river." Abe was wuss scared than -ever when he found he had the man in his arms. He wuz afeared 2 hold on -& still more afeared 2 let go. He heard them hollerin, & thought he had -2 do jest as they said, & begun edgin toward the river. - -The man got more scared than Abe. He began kickin & wrigglin & hollerin: - -"Don't let him do it. Help me. I can't swim a lick." - -At this the men hollered worsen ever: - -"Throw him in the river! Duck him! Baptize him! Drown him!" - -I'm a Baptist, but I don't believe in immersion onless the convert has -bin prepared for it, & is willin, which neither this man wuz. I stepped -forward 2 make Abe let him down, but before T could do anything Abe had -got 2 the edge of the wharfboat & let go, & plunk went the man into -about 10 foot ov water. Abe, scared now nearly 2 death, stood there with -his ize biggern sassers & whitern goose-eggs. - -In a minnit the man cum up, sputterin & hollerin. A big Sergeant, with -his left arm in a sling, reached over & ketchod him by the collar & held -his head above water. - -"If I pull you out will you promis 2 go out ov the niggor-kotchin -bizniss forever?" axed the Sergeant. - -"Pull me out & then I'll talk 2 you," says the man grabbin for the -slippery sides ov the wharfboat.91 - -"No, I won't," said the Sergeant, sousin him under water agin. - -"Yes, yes, I'll promise," says the man, when he come up agin. - -"Will you swear it?" axed the Sergeant. - -"Yes, I'll swear it before a Justice ov the Peace." - -"Will you swear 2 support the Constitution ov the United States agin all -enemies & opposers whatsumever, & vote for Abraham Lincoln every time?" -axed the Sergeant. - -"I'll take the oath ov allegiance," says the man, sputterin the water -out ov his mouth, "but I'll never vote for that Abolition ape as long as -I live." - -"Then down you go," says the Sergeant, sousin him again. - -"Yes, yes, I'll vote for Abe Lincoln, & anybody else, if you'll only -pull me out," said the man, in a tired tone of voice, when he cum up -agin. I begin 2 see that immersion had a great deal ov good in it, even -if a man isn't prepared & willin. - -"Will you swear 2 always love a nigger as a man & a brother, until death -do you part, & aid & comfort all them who are tryin 2 git away from -slavery?" axed the Sergeant. - -"Damned if I will," says the man. "No nigger kin ever be a brother 2 me. -I'll die first." - -"Then you'll die right now," says the Sergeant, sendin him down as far -as his long arm would reach & holding him there until I wuz scared for -fear he wuz really goin 2 drown the man. When he brung him up the man -whimpered: - -"Yes, only pull me out—save my life—& I'll do anything you want."92 - -By this time the ferryboat had cum up. We got aboard & crost over to -Injianny, & I felt so glad at bein on my nativ soil wuns more that I -took Abe up 2 the eatin stand, & blowed in a dollar filin up the vacant -plasis in his hide. - -When we tried 2 git on the train there cum another trubble: The -conductor woulddent let him ride in the car with white folks—not even in -the smokin-car. He made him go into the baggage-car. Abe wuz so scared -about leavin me for a minnit in' that strange country that I tried 2 go -into the baggage-car with him, but the conductor woulddent let me. He -said it wuz agin the rules for passengers to ride in the baggage-cars, -but Abe could go in there, same as dogs, prize poultry, & household -pets. I tried 2 joke with him, tellin him that in sum plasis I wuz -considered a household pet, but he said Ide have 2 git another mug on me -before he could believe it. - -One of Zeke Biltner's hogs ditched the train jest before we got home, & -turned the baggage-car over. Sum crates ov aigs wuz smashed over Abraham -Lincoln, & he wuz a sight to behold. He wuz awfully scared, though, & -begged me 2 let him go the rest ov the way on foot. He said he wuz a -thousand years older than when he left his ole massa, & I could -understand what he meant. - -I found your mother & the girls bright & chipper & jest tickled 2 death -to see me safe back. They axed me so many questions about you & Shorty -that my head buzzed like a bee-hive. It is hard 2 git away from them 2 -tend 2 my Spring work, but I've made an arrangement 2 giv em an hour -mornin93 & evenin 2 answerin questions. I think this will keep me purty -busy till the snow flise agin. - -Wheat is lookin surprisinly well, though I found sum bare plasis in the -north field. I think we'll have a fair crop ov apples and peaches. Your -colt is growin up the purtiest thing that ever went on four legs, & -jumped an eight-rail fence. My hogs wintered in good shape, & pork is -risin. They have the measles over on the Crick, & school's broke up. -Bill Scripp's out agin for Sheriff, & I spose I'le have 2 turn 2 agin & -beat him. Singler, that he'll never know when he's got enuff. - -If anything, Abraham Lincoln's appetite has bin improved by Wabash air. -I wuzzent goin 2 have the wimmen folks wear theirselves out cookin for -him. So I fix-ed up a place for him in the old log house, & took him -over some sides ov meat, a few bushel ov pertaters, a jug ov sorghum -molasses, & every time mother bakes she sends over some leaves ov bread. -I jest turned him loose there. He seems 2 be very happy, & we hear him -singin & yellin most all the time when he's by hisself. He's a good -worker when I stand right over him, & he'll lift & dig as patient as an -ox. But he hain't no more sense about goin ahead by hisself than a steer -has, & the moment my back's turned he stops work. Ime af eared I've got -a job on my hands makin a firstclass farmer out ov him. But if that's my -share ov the work that Providens has chalked out for me, there's nothin -left for me but 2 go ahead & do it in fear & tremblin. - -No more from your affeckshionate father. - -P. S. Give my best respects 2 Shorty. - - - - - -CHAPTER VII. CORN PONE AND BUTTERMILK SI AND SHORTY GO FORAGING AND ARE -CAPTURED AND ROBBED - -SI AND SHORTY got the common feeling of men of some months' service, -that they had fully mastered the art of war, and that there was little, -if anything, left for them to learn. It did not take some men even so -long as months to acquire this pleasant idea of themselves. Some entered -the army feeling quite capable of giving advice to the oldest General in -it, and they were not slow about offering their opinions. - -Si and Shorty had had successes enough since their enlistment to develop -a self-confidence which might be pardoned if it expanded into self- -sufficiency and vanity. - -The 200th Ind. had been sent out on a reconnoissance toward Shelbyville. -No sign of rebels in force developed in any direction, and Si and Shorty -got permission to go off on a little scout of their own. - -"No use o' huntin' rebels with a brass band," said Si, who, since his -association with Mr. Rosenbaum, had gotten some idea that stealth and -cunning were efficient war powers. "We kin jest slip around out here -somewhere, and if there is any rebels, find 'em, and git more -information than the whole regiment kin." - -"I'm not so thirsty for information and rebels95 as I am for some fresh -buttermilk," said Shorty. "Somehow, I've been hankering for buttermilk -and cornpone for days. I hain't had any for a coon's age, and it'd go -mighty good as a change from camp rations. Buttermilk and rebels -sometimes grow near together. You look for one, I'll look for the other. -Mebbe we kin git both." - -"I wouldn't mind havin' some buttermilk an' cornpone myself," said Si. -"But I'd like much better to drop on some rebels somewhere, and bring -'em into camp, and show that we kin git more information than the whole -regiment kin." - -"All right," assented Shorty; "ask the Captain to let us go. I'll be -bound we'll find something worth goin' for, if it's no more'n a chicken -for the Captain's supper. I'd like to take in one for him. He's been -mighty good to me and you in several ways, and I'd like to show him that -we appreciate it." - -As the regiment had gone as far as ordered without discovering anything -that in the least threatened the peace in that portion of Tennessee, it -would start on its return, after the men had rested and had dinner. Si -and Shorty, consequently, had no difficulty in securing the desired -permission. - -They cut off through a side-road, which gave promise of leading into a -better-settled part of the country than that they had been traversing. A -mile or so of walking brought them in sight of the substantial chimneys -of a farmhouse showing above the trees. A glimpse of a well-fenced field -roused warm hopes in Shorty's heart. - -"Now, I think we're comin' to a better thing than we've ever struck -before," said he, as they stopped96 and surveyed the prospect. "We've -got out o' the barren plateaus and into the rich farming country. That's -likely a farm jest like they have up in Injianny, and it's way off where -they hain't knowed nothin' o' the war. No soljer's ever anigh 'em, and -they've jest got lots and plenty o' everything. They've got a great big -barnyard full o' chickens and turkeys, pigs and geese and guineas. -There, you kin hear the guineas hollerin' now. There's cows layin' in -the shade chawin' the cud, while their calves are cavortin' around in -the sun, hogs rootin' in the woods-pasture, horses and sheep in the -medder, and everything like it is at home. And down a little ways from -the house there's a cool springhouse, with clear, cold water wellin' up -and ripplin' out over the clean, white sand, with crocks o' fresh milk -setting in it with cream half an inch thick, and big jars o' buttermilk -from the last churnin', and piggins o' fresh butter, and mebbe a big -crock full o' smearkase. Si, do you like smearkase?" - -"'Deed I do," answered Si, his mouth watering at the thought. "My -goodness, you jest orter eat some o' mother's smearkase. She jest lays -over all the women in the country for smearkase. Many's the time I've -come in hot and sweatin from the field, and got a thick slice o' bread -clear acrost the loaf from one o' the girls, and went down to our -spring-house and spread it with fresh butter, and then put a thick layer -o' smearkase on top o' that, and then got about a quart o' cool milk, -that was half cream, from ono o' the crocks, and then—" - -"Shot up, Si," shouted Shorty, desperately. "Do you want me to bang you -over the head with my97 musket? Do you s'pose I kin stand everything? -But I believe there's jest sich a spring-house down there, and we'll -find it plumb-full o' all them sort o' things. Le's mosey on." - -"Do you think there's any rebels around here?" said Si, the caution -which experience had taught him making a temporary reassertion of -itself. - -"Naw," said Shorty, contemtpuously, "there ain't no rebel this side o' -the Duck River, unless some straggler, who'd run if he saw us. If we -ketch sight o' one we'll take him into camp, jest to gratify you. But I -ain't lookin' for none. Buttermilk and cornpone's what I want." - -The scene was certainly peaceful enough to justify Shorty's confidence. -A calmer, quieter landscape could not have been found in the whole -country. A negro was plowing in a distant field, with occasional -sonorous yells to his team. He did not seem to notice the soldiers, nor -did a gray-haired white man who was sitting on the fence superintending -him. A couple of negresses were washing the family linen by a fire under -a large kettle on the creek bank, at some distance from the house, and -spreading the cleansed garments out on the grass to dry and bleach. -Cattle and horses were feeding on the fresh Spring grass and sheep -browsing on the bushes on the hillside. Hens cackled and roosters -crowed; the guineas, ever on the lookout, announced their approach with -shrill, crackling notes. Two or three dogs waked up and barked lazily at -them as they walked up the path to where an elderly, spectacled woman -sat on the porch knitting. She raised98 her eyes and threw her -spectacles on top of her head, and looked curiously at them. - -Whatever faint misgivings Si might have had vanished at the utter -peacefulness of the scene. It was so like the old home that he had left -that he could not imagine that war existed anywhere near. It seemed as -if the camp at Murfreesboro' and the bloody field of Stone River must be -a thousand miles away. The beds of roses and pinks which bordered the -walk were the same as decorated the front yard at home. There were the -same clumps of snowballs and lilacs at the corners of the house. - -"Howdy, gentlemen?" said the woman, as they came up. - -It seemed almost a wrong and insult to be carrying deadly arms in the -presence of such a woman, and Si and Shorty let their guns slip down, as -if they were rather ashamed of them. - -"Good day, ma'am," said Shorty, taking off his hat politely and wiping -his face. "We're lookin' around to git some cornpone and buttermilk, and -didn't know but what you might let us have some. We're willin' to pay -for it." - -"If you want suthin' to eat," said the woman promptly, "I kin gin it to -ye. I never turn no hungry man away from my door. Wait a minnit and I'll -bring ye some." - -She disappeared inside the house, and Si remarked to Shorty: - -"Your head's level this time, as it generally is. We'll git something -that's worth while comin' after." - -The woman reappeared with a couple of good-size corn-dodgers in her -hand.99 - -"This appears to be all the bread that's left over from dinner," she -said. "And the meat's all gone. But the wenches 'll be through their -washin' purty soon, and then I'll have them cook ye some more, if ye'll -wait." - -"Thankee, ma'am," said Shorty; "we can't wait. This'll be a plenty, if -we kin only git some buttermilk to go with it. We don't want no meat. We -git plenty o' that in camp." - -"You can have all the buttermilk you want to drink," she answered, "if -you'll go down to the spring-house thar and git it. It's fresh, and -you'll find a gourd right beside o' the jar. I'd go with you, but it -allers gives me rheumatiz to go nigh the spring-house." - -"Don't bother, ma'am, to go with us," said Shorty politely. "We are very -much obliged to you, indeed, and we kin make out by ourselves. How much -do we owe you?" And he pulled a greenback dollar from his pocket. - -"Nothin', nothin' at all," said the woman hastily. "I don't sell -vittels. Never thought o' sich a thing. Ye're welcome to all ye kin eat -any time." - -"Well, take the money, and let us ketch a couple of them chickens -there," said Shorty, laying down the bill on the banister rail. - -After a little demur the woman finally agreed to this, and picked up the -money. The boys selected two fat chickens, ran them down, wrung their -necks, and, after repeating their thanks, took their bread and started -for the spring-house. They found it the coolest and most inviting place -in the world on a hot, tiresome day—just such a spot as Shorty had100 -described. It was built of rough stones, and covered with a moss-grown -roof. A copious spring poured out a flood of clear, cool water, which -flowed over white pebbles and clean-looking sand until it formed a -cress-bordered rivulet just beyond the house. In the water sat crocks of -fresh milk, a large jar of buttermilk, and buckets of butter. The looks, -the cool, pure freshness of the place, were delightful101 contrasts from -the tiresome smells and appearances of the camp kitchens. The boys -reveled in the change. They forgot all about war's alarms, stood their -rifles up against the side of the spring-house, washed their dust-grimed -faces and hands in the pure water, dried them with their handkerchiefs, -and prepared to enjoy their meal. How good the buttermilk tasted along -with the cornpone. The fresh milk was also sampled, and some of the -butter spread upon their bread. - -Si even went to the point of declaring that it was almost as good as the -things he used to eat at home, which was the highest praise he could -possibly give to any food. Si never found anywhere victuals or cooking -to equal that of his mother. - -He was pointing out to Shorty, as they munched, the likenesses and -unlikenesses of this spring-house to that on the Wabash, when they were -startled by the stern command: - -"Surrender, there, you infernal Yankees!" - -Undesirable Acquaintances. 100 - -They looked up with startled eyes to stare into a dozen muskets leveled -straight at their heads from the willow thickets. Corn-dodgers and milk- -gourds dropped into the water as they impulsively jumped to their feet. - -"If yo'uns move we'uns 'll blow the lights outen yo'uns," shouted the -leader of the rebels. "Hold up yer hands." - -It was a moment of the most intense anguish that either of them had ever -known. Their thoughts were lightning-like in rapidity. The rebel muzzles -were not a rod away, their aim was true, and it102 would be madness to -risk their fire, for it meant certain death. - -The slightest move toward resistance was suicide. - -Si gave a deep groan, and up went his hands at the same moment with -Shorty's. - -The rebels rushed out of the clump of willows behind which they had -crept up on the boys, and surrounded them. Two snatched up their guns, -and the others began pulling off their haversacks and other personal -property as their own shares of the booty. In the midst of this, Si -looked around, and saw the woman standing near calmly knitting. - -"You ain't so afeared o' rheumatism all at once," he said bitterly. - -"My rheumatiz has spells, young man, same ez other people's," she -answered, pulling one of the needles out, and counting the stitches with -it. "Sometimes it is better, and sometimes it is wuss. Jest now it is a -great deal better, thankee. I only wisht I could toll the whole Yankee -army to destruction ez easy ez you wuz. My, but ye walked right in, like -the fly to the spider. I never had nothin' do my rheumatiz so much -good." - -And she cackled with delight. "When you git through," she continued, -addressing the leader of the rebels, "come up to the house, and I'll -have some dinner cooked for ye. I know ye're powerful tired an' hungry. -I s'pose nothin' need be cooked for them," and she pointed her knitting- -needle contemptuously at Si and Shorty. "Ole Satan will be purvidin' fur -them. I'll take these along to cook fur ye."103 - -She gathered up the dead chickens and stalked back to the house. - -"Ef we're gwine t' shoot they'uns le's take they'uns over thar on the -knoll, whar they'uns won't spile nothin'," said one evil-looking man, -who had just ransacked Si's pockets and appropriated everything in them. -"Hit'd be too bad t' kill they'uns here right in sight o' the house." - -"Le'me see them letters, Bushrod;" said the leader, snatching a package -of letters and Annabel's picture out of the other's hand. "Mebbe thar's -some news in them that the Captain'd like to have." - -Si gnashed his teeth as he saw the cherished missives rudely torn open -and scanned, and especially when the ambrotype case was opened and -Annabel's features made the subject of coarse comment. The imminent -prospect of being murdered had a much lighter pang. - -While the letters and ambrotype were being looked over the process of -robbery was going on. One had snatched Si's cap, another had pulled off -his blouse, and there was a struggle as to who should have possession of -his new Government shoes, which were regarded as a great prize. Si had -resisted this spoliation, but was caught from behind and held, despite -his kicks and struggles, while the shoes were pulled off. Shorty was -treated in the same way. - -The Spoils of War 105 - -In a few minutes both, exhausted by their vigorous resistance, were -seated on the ground, with nothing left on them but their pantaloons, -while their captors were quarreling over the division of their personal -effects, and as to what disposition was to be made of them. In the -course of the discussion104 the boys learned that they had been captured -by a squad of young men from the immediate neighborhood, who had been -allowed to go home on furlough, had been gathered together when the -regiment appeared, and had been watching every movement from safe -coverts. They had seen Si and Shorty leave, and had carefully dogged -their steps until such moment as they could pounce on them. - -"Smart as we thought we wuz," said Si bitterly, "we played right into -their hands. They tracked us down jest as if we'd bin a couple o' -rabbits, and ketched us jest when they wanted us." - -He gave a groan which Shorty echoed. - -Bushrod and two others were for killing the two boys then and there and -ending the matter. - -"They orter be killed, Ike, right here," said Bushrod to the leader. -"They deserve it, and we'uns hain't got no time to fool. We'uns can't -take they'uns back with we'uns, ef we wanted to, and I for one don't -want to. I'd ez soon have a rattlesnake around me." - -But Ike, the leader, was farther-seeing. He represented to the others -the vengeance the Yankees would take on the people of the neighborhood -if they murdered the soldiers. - -This developed another party, who favored taking the prisoners to some -distance and killing them there, so as to avoid the contingency that Ike -had set forth. Then there were propositions to deliver them over to the -guerrilla leaders, to be disposed of as they pleased. - -Finally, it occurred to Ike that they were talking entirely too freely -before the prisoners, unless they105 intended to kill them outright, for -they were giving information in regard to the position and operations of -rebel bands that might prove dangerous. He drew his squad off a little -distance to continue the discussion. At first they kept their eyes on -the prisoners and their guns ready to fire, but as they talked they lost -their watchful attitude in the eagerness of making their points. - -Si looked at Shorty, and caught an answering gleam. Like a flash both -were on their feet and started on a mad rush for the fence. Bushrod -saw106 them start, and fired. His bullet cut off a lock of Si's auburn -hair. Others fired as fast as they could bring their guns up, and the -bullets sang viciously around, but none touched the fugitives. Their -bare feet were torn by the briars as they ran, but they thought not of -these. They plunged into the blackberry briars along the fence, climbed -it, and gained the road some distance ahead of their pursuers, who were -not impelled by the fear of immediate death to spur them on. Up the road -went Si and Shorty with all the speed that will-power could infuse into -their legs. Some of the rebels stopped to reload; the others ran after. -A score of noisy dogs suddenly waked up and joined in the pursuit. The -old white man mounted his horse and came galloping toward the house. - -On the boys ran, gaining, if anything, upon the foremost of the rebels. -The dogs came nearer, but before they could do any harm the boys halted -for an instant and poured such a volley of stones into them that they -ran back lamed and yelping. The fleetest-footed of the rebels, who was -the sanguinary Bushrod, also came within a stone's throw, and received a -well-aimed bowlder from Si's muscular hand full in his face. This -cheered the boys so that they ran ahead with increased speed, and -finally gained the top of the hill from which they had first seen the -farmhouse. - -They looked back and saw their enemies still after them. Ike had taken -the old man's horse and was coming on a gallop. They knew he had a -revolver, and shivered at the thought. But both stooped and selected the -best stones to throw, to attack him with107 as soon as he came within -range. They halted a minute to get their breath and nerve for the good -effort. Ike had reached a steep, difficult part of the road, where his -horse had to come down to a walk and pick his way. - -An Uncomfortable Situation 107 - -"Now, Si," said Shorty, "throw for your life, if you never did before. -I'm goin' to git him. You take his horse's head. Aim for that white -blaze in his forehead." - -Si concentrated his energy into one supreme effort.108 - -He could always beat the rest of the boys in throwing stones, and now -his practice was to save him. He flung the smooth, round pebble with -terrific force, and it went true to its mark. The horse reared with his -rider just at the instant that a bowlder from Shorty's hand landed on -Ike's breast. The rebel fell to the ground, and the boys ran on. - -At the top of the next hill they saw the regiment marching leisurely -along at the foot of the hill. It was so unexpected a deliverance that -it startled them. It seemed so long since they had left the regiment -that it might have been clear back to Nashville. They yelled with all -their remaining strength, and tore down the hill. Co. Q saw them at -once, and at the command of the Captain came forward at the double- -quick. The rebels had in the meanwhile gained the top of the hill. A few -shots were fired at them as they turned from the chase. - -The Colonel rode back and questioned the boys. Then he turned to the -Captain of Co. Q and said: - -"Captain, take your company over to that house. If you find anything -that you think we need in camp, bring it back with you. Put these boys -in the ambulance." - -The exhausted Si and Shorty were helped into the ambulance, the Surgeon -gave them a reviving drink of whisky and quinine, and as they stretched -themselves out on the cushioned seats Si remarked: - -"Shorty, we ain't ez purty ez we used to be, but we know a durned sight -more." - -"I doubt it," said Shorty surlily. "I think me and you'll be fools as -long as we live. We won't be fools the same way agin, you kin bet your -life, but we'll find some other way." - - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. A PERIOD OF SELF-DISGUST SI AND SHORTY HAVE AN ATTACK OF -IT, FOLLOWED BY RECOVERY. - -IT TOOK many days for the boys' lacerated feet to recover sufficiently -to permit their going about and returning to duty. They spent the period -of enforced idleness in chewing the cud of bitter reflection. The thorns -had cut far more painfully into their pride than into their feet. The -time was mostly passed in moody silence, very foreign to the customary -liveliness of the Hoosier's Rest. They only spoke to one another on the -most necessary subjects, and then briefly. In their sour shame at the -whole thing they even became wroth with each other. Shorty sneered at -the way Si cleaned up the house, and Si condemned Shorty's cooking. -Thenceforth Shorty slept on the floor, while Si occupied the bed, and -they cooked their meals separately. The newness of the clothes they drew -from the Quartermaster angered them, and they tried to make them look as -dirty and shabby as the old. - -Once they were on the point of actually coming to blows. - -Si had thoughtlessly flung some dishwater into the company street. It -was a misdemeanor that in ordinary times would have been impossible to -him. Now almost anything was. - -Shorty instantly growled:110 - -"You slouch, you ought to go to the guard-house for that." - -Si retorted hotly: - -"Slouch yourself! Look where you throwed them coffee-grounds this -morning," and he pointed to the tell-tale evidence beside the house. - -Shorty and si Are at Outs. 110 - -"Well, that ain't near so bad," said Shorty crustily. "That at least -intended to be tidy." - -"Humph," said Si, with supreme disdainfulness. "It's the difference -betwixt sneakin' an' straightout. I throwed mine right out in the -street. You tried to hide yours, and made it all the nastier. But111 -whatever you do's all right. Whatever I do's all wrong. You're a pill." - -"Look here, Mister Klegg," said Shorty, stepping forward with doubled -fist, "I'll have you understand that I've took all the slack and -impudence from you that I'm a-goin' to." - -"Shorty, if you double your fist up at me," roared the irate Si, "I'll -knock your head off in a holy minute." - -The boys of Co. Q were thunderstruck. It seemed as if their world was -toppling when two such partners should disagree. They gathered around in -voiceless sorrow and wonderment and watched, developments. - -Shorty seemed in the act of springing forward, when the sharp roll of -the drum at Headquarters beating the "assembly" arrested all attention. -Everyone looked eagerly toward the Colonel's tent, and saw him come out -buckling on his sword, while his Orderly sped away for his horse. -Apparently, all the officers had been in consultation with him, for they -were hurrying away to their several companies. - -"Fall in, Co. Q," shouted the Orderly-Sergeant. "Fall in promptly." - -Everybody made a rush for his gun and equipments. - -"Hurry up. Orderly," said Capt. McGillicuddy, coming up with his sword -and belt in hand. "Let the boys take what rations they can lay their -hands on, but not stop to cook any. We've got to go on the jump." - -All was rush and hurry. Si and Shorty bolted for their house, forgetful -of their mangled feet. Si112 got in first, took his gun and cartridge- -box down, and buckled on his belt. He looked around for his rations -while Shorty was putting on his things. His bread and meat and Shorty's -were separate, and there was no trouble about them. But the coffee and -sugar had not been divided, and were in common receptacles. He opened -the coffee-can and looked in. There did not seem to be more than one -ration there. He hesitated a brief instant what to do. It would serve -Shorty just right to take all the coffee. He liked his coffee even -better than Shorty did, and was very strenuous about having it. If he -did not take it Shorty might think that he was either anxious to make up -or afraid, and he wanted to demonstrate that he was neither. Then there -was a twinge that it would be mean to take the coffee, and leave his -partner, senseless and provoking as he seemed, without any. He set the -can down, and, turning as if to look for something to empty it in, -pretended to hear something outside the house to make him forget it, and -hurried out. - -Presently Shorty came out, and ostentatiously fell into line at a -distance from Si. It was the first time they had not stood shoulder to -shoulder. - -The Orderly-Sergeant looked down the line, and called out: - -"Here, Corp'l Klegg, you're not fit to go. Neither are you, Shorty. Step -out, both of you." - -"Yes, I'm all right," said Shorty. "Feet's got well. I kin outwalk a Wea -Injun." - -"Must've bin using some Lightning Elixir Liniment," said the Orderly- -Sergeant incredulously.. "I saw you both limping around like string- -halted113 horses not 15 minutes ago. Step out, I tell you." - -"Captain, le' me go along," pleaded Si. "You never knowed me to fall -out, did you?" - -"Captain, I never felt activer in my life," asserted Shorty; "and you -know I always kept up. I never played sore-foot any day." - -"I don't believe either of you're fit to go," said Capt. McGillicuddy, -"but I won't deny you. You may start, anyway. By the time we get to the -pickets you can fall out if you find you can't keep up." - -"The rebel calvary's jumped a herd of beef cattle out at pasture, run -off the guard, and are trying to get away with them," the Orderly- -Sergeant hurriedly explained as he lined up Co. Q. "We're to make a -short cut across the country and try to cut them off. Sir, the company's -formed." - -"Attention, Co. Q!" shouted Capt. McGillicuddy. "Right face!—Forward, -file left!—March!" - -The company went off at a terrific pace to get its place with the -regiment, which had already started without it. - -Though every step was a pang. Si and Shorty kept up unflinchingly. Each -was anxious to outdo the other, and to bear off bravery before the -company. The Captain and Orderly-Sergeant took an occasional look at -them until they passed the picket-line, when other more pressing matters -engaged the officers' attention. - -The stampeded guards, mounted on mules or condemned horses, or running -on foot, came tearing back, each with a prodigious tale of the numbers -and ferocity of the rebels.114 - -The regiment was pushed forward with all the speed there was in it, -going down-hill and over the level stretch at a double-quick. Si felt -his feet bleeding, and it seemed at times that he could not go another -step, but then he would look back down the line and catch a glimpse of -Shorty keeping abreast of his set of fours, and he would spur himself to -renewed effort. Shorty would long to throw himself in a fence-corner and -rest for a week, until, as they went over some rise, he would catch -sight of Si's sandy hair, well in the lead, when he would drink in fresh -determination to keep up, if he died in the attempt. - -Presently they arrived at the top of the hill from which they could see -the rebel cavalry rounding up and driving off the cattle, while a -portion of the enemy's horsemen were engaged in a fight with a small -squad of infantry ensconced behind a high rail fence. - -Si and Shorty absolutely forgot their lameness as Co. Q separated from -the column and rushed to the assistance of the squad, while the rest of -the regiment turned off to the right to cut off the herd. But they were -lame all the same, and tripped and fell over a low fence which the rest -of the company easily leaped. They gathered themselves up, sat on the -ground for an instant, and glared at one another. - -"Blamed old tangle-foot," said Shorty derisively. - -"You've got hoofs like a foundered hoss," retorted Si. - -After this interchange of compliments they staggered painfully to their -feet and picked up their115 guns, which were thrown some distance from -their hands as they fell. - -By this time Co. Q was a quarter of a mile away, and already beginning -to fire on the rebels, who showed signs of relinquishing the attack. - -"Gol darn the luck!" said Si with Wabash emphasis, beginning to limp -forward. - -"Wish the whole outfit was a mile deep in burnin' brimstone," wrathfully -observed Shorty. - -A couple of lucky shots had emptied two of the rebel saddles. The -frightened horses turned away from the fighting line, and galloped down -the road to the right of the boys. The leading one suddenly halted in a -fence-corner about 30 yards away from Si, threw up his head and began -surveying the scene, as if undecided what to do next. The other, seeing -his mate stop, began circling around. - -Hope leaped up in Si's breast. He began creeping toward the first horse, -under the covert of the sumach. Shorty saw his design and the advantage -it would give Si, and, standing still, began swearing worse than ever. - -Si crept up as cautiously as he had used to in the old days when he was -rabbit-hunting. The horse thrust his head over the fence, and began -nibbling at a clump of tall rye growing there. Si thrust his hand out -and caught his bridle. The horse made one frightened plunge, but the -hand on his bridle held with the grip of iron, and he settled down to -mute obedience. - -Si set his gun down in the fence-corner and climbed into the saddle. - -Shorty made the Spring air yellow with profanity116 until he saw Si ride -away from his gun toward the other horse. When the latter saw his mate, -with a rider, coming toward him he gave a whinney and dashed forward. In -an instant Si had hold of his bridle and was turning back. His face was -bright with triumph. Shorty stopped in the middle of a soul-curdling -oath and yelled delightedly: - -"Bully for old Wabash! You're my pardner after all Si." - -He hastened forward to the fence, grabbed up Si's gun and handed it to -him and then climbed into the other saddle. - -The rebels were now falling back rapidly before Co. Q's fire. A small -part detached itself and started down a side road. - -Si and Shorty gave a yell, and galloped toward them, in full sight of -Co. Q. who raised a cheer. The rebels spurred their horses, but Si and -Shorty gained on them. - -"Come on. Shorty." Si yelled. "I don't believe they've got a shot left. -They hain't fired once since they started." - -He was right. Their cartridge-boxes had been emptied. - -At the bottom of the hill a creek crossing the road made a deep, wide -quagmire. The rebels were in too much hurry to pick out whatever road -there might have been through it. Their leaders plunged in, their horses -sank nearly to the knees, and the whole party bunched up. - -"Surrender, you rebel galoots." yelled Si reining up at a little -distance, and bringing his gun to bear.117 - -"Surrender, you off-scourings of secession," added Shorty. - -Si and Shorty As Mounted Infantry 117 - -The rebels looked back, held up their hands, and said imploringly: - -"Don't shoot, Mister. We'uns give up. We'uns air taylored." - -"Come back up here, one by one," commanded Si,118 "and go to our rear. -Hold on to your guns. Don't throw 'em away. We ain't afraid of 'em." - -One by one the rebels extricated their horses from the mire with more or -less difficulty and filed back. Si kept his gun on those in the -quagmire, while Shorty attended to the others as they came back. Co. Q -was coming to his assistance as fast as the boys could march. - -What was the delight of the boys to recognize in their captives the -squad which had captured them. The sanguinary Bushrod was the first to -come back, and Si had to restrain a violent impulse to knock him off his -horse with his gun-barrel. But he decided to settle with him when -through with the present business. - -By the time the rebels were all up, Co. Q had arrived on the scene. As -the prisoners were being disarmed and put under guard, Si called out to -Capt. McGillicuddy: - -"Captain, one o' these men is my partickler meat. I want to 'tend to -him." - -"All right. Corporal," responded the Captain, "attend to him, but don't -be too rough on him. Remember that he is an unarmed prisoner." - -Si and Shorty got down off their horses, and approached Bushrod, who -turned white as death, trembled violently, and began to beg. - -"Gentlemen, don't kill me," he whined. "I'm a poor man, an' have a -fambly to support. I didn't mean nothin' by what I said. I sw'ar't' Lord -A'mighty I didn't." - -"Jest wanted to hear yourself talk—jest practicin' your voice," said -Shorty sarcastically, as he took the119 man by the shoulder and pulled -him off into the bush by the roadside. "Jest wanted to skeer us, and see -how fast we could run. Pleasant little pastime, eh?" "And them things -you said about a young lady up in Injianny," said Si, clutching him by -the throat. - -Bushrod Prays for his Life 119 - -"I want to wring your neck jest like a chicken's. What'd you do with her -picture and letters?" - -Si thrust his hand unceremoniously into Bushrod's pocket and found the -ambrotype of Annabel. A brief glance showed him that it was all right, -and he gave a sigh of satisfaction, which showed some amelioration of -temper toward the captive.120 - -"What'd you do with them letters?" Si demanded fiercely. - -"Ike has 'em," said Bushrod. - -"You've got my shoes on, you brindle whelp," said Shorty, giving him a -cuff in bitter remembrance of his own smarting feet. - -"If we're goin' to shoot him, let's do it right off," said Si, looking -at the cap on his gun. "The company's gittin' ready to start back." - -"All right," said Shorty, with cheerful alacrity. "Johnny, your ticket -for a brimstone supper's made out. How'd you rather be shot—standin' or -kneelin'?" - -"O, gentlemen, don't kill be. Ye hadn't orter. Why do ye pick me out to -kill? I wuzzent no wuss'n the others. I wuzzent rayly half ez bad. I -didn't rayly mean t' harm ye. I only talked. I had t' talk that-a-way, -for I alluz was a Union man, and had t' make a show for the others. I -don't want t' be shot at all." - -"You ain't answerin' my question," said Shorty coolly and inexorably. "I -asked you how you preferred to be shot. These other things you mention -hain't nothin' to do with my question." - -He leveled his gun at the unhappy man and took a deliberate sight. - -"O, for the Lord A'mighty's sake, don't shoot me down like a dog," -screamed Bushrod. "Le'me have a chance to pray, an' make my peace with -my Maker." - -"All right," conceded Shorty, "go and kneel down there by that -cottonwood, and do the fastest prayin* you ever did in all your born -days, for you have need of it. We'll shoot when I count three. You'd121 -better make a clean breast of all your sins and transgressions before -you go. You'll git a cooler place in the camp down below." - -Unseen, the rest of Co. Q were peeping through the bushes and enjoying -the scene. - -Bushrod knelt down with his face toward the Cottonwood, and began an -agonized prayer, mingled with confessions of crimes and malefactions, -some flagrant, some which brought a grin of amusement to the faces of -Co. Q. - -"One!" called out Shorty in stentorian tones. - -"O, for the love o' God, Mister, don't shoot me," yelled Bushrod, -whirling around, with uplifted arms. "I'm too wicked to die, an' I've -got a fambly dependin' on me." - -"Turn around there, and finish your prayin'," sternly commanded Shorty, -with his and Si's faces down to the stocks of their muskets, in the act -of taking deliberate aim. - -Bushrod flopped around, threw increased vehemence into his prayer, and -resumed his recital of his misdeeds. - -"Two!" counted Shorty. - -Again Bushrod whirled around with uplifted hands and begged for mercy. - -"Nary mercy," said Shorty. "You wouldn't give it to us, and you hain't -given it to many others, according to your own account. Your light's -flickerin', and we'll blow it out at the next count. Turn around, -there." - -Bushrod made the woods ring this time with his fervent, tearful appeals -to the Throne of Grace. He was so wrought up by his impending death that -he122 did not hear Co. Q quietly move away, at a sign from the Captain, -with Si and Shorty mounting their horses and riding off noiselessly over -the sod. - -For long minutes Bushrod continued his impassioned appeals at the top of -his voice, expecting every instant to have the Yankee bullets crash -through his brain. At length he had to stop from lack of breath. -Everything was very quiet—deathly so, it seemed to him. He stole a -furtive glance around. No Yankees could be seen out of the tail of his -eye on either side. Then he looked squarely around. None was visible -anywhere. He jumped up, began cursing savagely, ran into the road, and -started for home. He had gone but a few steps when he came squarely in -front of the musket of the Orderly-Sergeant of Co. Q, who had placed -himself in concealment to see the end of the play and bring him along. - -"Halt, there," commanded the Orderly-Sergeant; "face the other way and -trot. We must catch up with the company." - -Si and Shorty felt that they had redeemed themselves, and returned to -camp in such good humor with each other, and everybody else, that they -forgot that their feet were almost as bad as ever. - -They went into the house and began cooking their supper together again. -Shorty picked up the coffeecan and said: - -"Si Klegg, you're a gentleman all through, if you was born on the -Wabash. A genuine gentleman is knowed by his never bein' no hog under no -circumstances. I watched you when you looked into this coffee-can, and -mad as I was at you, I said you was a thorobred when you left it all to -me." - -123 - - - - -CHAPTER IX. SHORTY GETS A LETTER BECOMES ENTANGLED IN A HIGHLY IMPORTANT -CORRESPONDENCE. - -A LIGHT spring wagon, inscribed "United States Sanitary Commission," -drove through the camp of the 200th Ind., under the charge of a -dignified man with a clerical cast of countenance, who walked alongside, -looking at the soldiers and into the tents, and stopping from time to -time to hand a can of condensed milk to this one, a jar of jam to -another, and bunches of tracts to whomsoever would take them. - -Shorty was sitting in front of the house bathing his aching feet. The -man stopped before him, and looked compassionately at his swollen -pedals. - -"Your feet are in a very bad way, my man," he said sadly. - -"Yes, durn 'em," said Shorty impatiently. "I don't seem to git 'em well -nohow. Must've got 'em pizened when I was runnin' through the briars." - -"Probably some ivy or poison-oak, or nightshade among the briars. -Poison-oak is very bad, and nightshade is deadly. I knew a man once that -had to have his hand amputated on account of getting poisoned by -something that scratched him—nightshade, ivy, or poison-oak. I'm afraid -your feet are beginning to mortify." - -"Well, you are a Job's comforter," thought Shorty.124 - -"You'd be nice to send for when a man's sick. You'd scare him to death, -even if there was no danger o' his dyin'." - -"My friend," said the man, turning to his wagon, "I've here a nice pair -of home-made socks, which I will give you, and which will come in nicely -if you save your legs. If you don't, give them to some needy man. Here -are also some valuable tracts, full of religious consolation and advice, -which it will do your soul good to peruse and study." - -Shorty took the gift thankfully, and turned over the tracts with -curiosity. - -"On the Sin of Idolatry," he read the title of the first. - -"Now, why'd he give that? What graven image have I bin worshipin'? What -gods of wood and stone have I bin bowin' down before in my blindness? -There've bin times when I thought a good deal more of a Commissary tent -then I did of a church, but I got cured of that as soon as I got a -square meal. I don't see where I have bin guilty of idolatry. - -"On the Folly of Self-Pride," he read from the next one. "Humph, there -may be something in that that I oughter read. I am very liable to git -stuck on myself, and think how purty I am, and how graceful, and how -sweetly I talk, and what fine cloze I wear. Especially the cloze. I'll -put that tract in my pocket an' read it after awhile." - -"On the Evils of Gluttony," he next read. "Well, that's a timely tract, -for a fact. I'm in the habit o' goin' around stuffin' myself, as this -says, with delicate viands, and drinkin' fine wines—'makin' my belly a -god.' The man what wrote this must've bin125 intimately acquainted with -the sumptuous meals which Uncle Sam sets before his nephews. He must've -knowed all about the delicate, apetizin' flavor of a slab o' fat pork -four inches thick, taken off the side of the hog that's uppermost when -he's laying on his back. And how I gormandize on hardtack baked in the -first place for the Revolutioners, and kept over ever since. That feller -knows jest what he's writin' about. I'd like to exchange photographs -with him." - -"Thou Shalt Not Swear." Shorty read a few words, got red in the face, -whistled softly, crumpled the tract up, and threw it away. - -"On the Sin of Dancing," Shorty yelled with laughter. "Me dance with -these hoofs! And he thinks likely mortification'll set in, and I'll lose -'em altogether. Well, he oughter be harnessed up with Thompson's colt. -Which'd come out ahead in the race for the fool medal? But these seem to -be nice socks. Fine yarn, well-knit, and by stretching a little I think -I kin get 'em on. I declare, they're beauties. I'll jest make Si sick -with envy when I show 'em to him. I do believe they lay over anything -his mother ever sent him. Hello, what's this?" - -He extracted from one of them a note in a small, white envelope, on one -end of which was a blue Zouave, with red face, hands, cap and gaiters, -brandishing a red sword in defense of a Star Spangled Banner which he -held in his left hand. - -"Must belong to the Army o' the Potomac," mused Shorty, studying the -picture. "They wear all sorts o' outlandish uniforms there. That red- -headed woodpecker'd be shot before he'd git a mile o' the rebels out -here. All that hollyhock business'd jest be meat126 for their -sharpshooters. And what's he doin' with that 'ere sword? I wouldn't give -that Springfield rifle o' mine for all the swords that were ever -hammered out. When I reach for a feller 600 or even 800 yards away I kin -fetch him every time. He's my meat unless he jumps behind a tree. But as -for swords, I never could see no sense in 'em except for officers to put -on lugs with. I wouldn't pack one a mile for a wagonload of 'em." - -He looked at the address on the envelope. Straight lines had been -scratched across with a pin. On these was written, in a cramped, mincing -hand: - -"To the brave soljer who Gits these Socks." - -"Humph," mused Shorty, "that's probably for me. I've got the socks, and -I'm a soldier. As to whether I'm brave or not's a matter of opinion. -Sometimes I think I am; agin, when there's a dozen rebel guns pinted at -my head, not 10 feet away, I think I'm not. But we'll play that I'm -brave enough to have this intended for me, and I'll open it." - -On the sheet of paper inside was another valorous red-and-blue Zouave -defending the flag with drawn sword. On it was written: - -"Bad Ax, Wisconsin, - -"Janooary the 14th, 1863. - -"Braiv Soljer: I doant know who you air, or whair you may bee; I only -know that you air serving your country, and that is enuf to entitle to -the gratitude and afl'ection of every man and woman who has the breath -of patriotism in their bodies. - -"I am anxious to do something all the time, very little though it may -be, to help in some way the men127 who air fiting the awful battles for -me, and for every man and woman in the country. - -"I send these socks now as my latest contribution. They aint much, but -I've put my best work on them, and I hoap they will be useful and -comfortable to some good, braiv man. - -"How good you may be I doant know, but you air sertingly a much better -man than you would be if you was not fiting for the Union. I hoap you -air a regler, consistent Christian. Ide prefer you to be a Methodist -Episcopal, but any church is much better than none. - -"He be glad to heer that you have received these things all rite. - -"Sincerely your friend and well-wisher, - -"Jerusha Ellen Briggs." - -Although Shorty was little inclined to any form of reading, and disliked -handwriting about as much as he did work on the fortifications, he read -the letter over several times, until he had every word in it and every -feature of the labored, cramped penmanship thoroughly imprinted on his -mind. Then he held it off at arm's length for some time, and studied it -with growing admiration. It seemed to him the most wonderful epistle -that ever emanated from any human hand. A faint scent of roses came from -it to help the fascination. - -"I'll jest bet my head agin a big red apple," he soliloquized, "the -woman that writ that's the purtiest girl in the State o' Wisconsin. I'll -bet there's nothin' in Injianny to hold a candle to her, purty as Si -thinks his Annabel is. And smart—my! Jest look at that letter. That -tells it. Every word spelled correckly,128 and the grammar away up in G. -Annabel's a mighty nice girl, and purty, too, but I've noticed she makes -mistakes in spelling, and her grammar's the Wabash kind—home-made." - -He drew down his eyebrows, pursed his lips, and assumed a severely -critical look for a reperusal of the letter and judgment upon it -according to the highest literary standards. - -"No, sir," he said, with an air of satisfaction, "not a blamed mistake -in it, from beginnin' to end. Every word spelled jest right, the grammar -straight as the Ten Commandments, every t crossed and i dotted accordin' -to regulashuns and the Constitushun of the United States. She must be a -school-teacher, and yit a school-teacher couldn't knit sich socks as -them. She's a lady, every inch of her. Religious, too. Belongs to the -Methodist Church. Si's father's a Baptist, and so's my folks, but I -always did think a heap o' the Methodists. I think they have a little -nicer girls than the Baptists. I think I'd like to marry a Methodist -wife." - -Then he blushed vividly, all to himself, to think how fast his thoughts -had traveled. He returned to the letter, to cover his confusion. - -"Bad Ax, Wis. What a queer name for a place. Never heard of it before. -Wonder where in time it is? I'd like awfully to know. There's the 1st -and 21st Wis. in Rousseau's Division, and the 10th Wis. Battery in -Palmer's Division. I might go over there and ask some o' them. Mebbe -some of 'em are right from there. I'll bet it's a mighty nice place." - -He turned to the signature with increased interest. - -"Jerusha Ellen Briggs. Why, the name itself is129 reg'lar poetry. -Jerusha is awful purty. Your Mollies and Sallies and Emmies can't hold a -candle to it. And Annabel—pshaw! Ellen—why that's my mother's name. -Briggs? I knowed some Briggses once away-up, awfully nice people. Seems -to me they wuz Presbyterians, though, and I always thought that -Presbyterians wuz stuck-up, but they wuzzent stuck-up a mite. I wonder -if Miss Jerusha Ellen Briggs—she must be a Miss—haint some beau? But she -can't have. If he wuzzent in the army she wouldn't have him; and if he -was in the army she'd be sending the socks to him, instead of to whom it -may concern." - -This brilliant bit of logic disposed of a sudden fear which had been -clutching at his heart. It tickled him so much that he jumped up, -slapped his breast, and grinned delightedly and triumphantly at the -whole landscape. - -"What's pleasin' you so mightily. Shorty?" asked Si, who had just come -up. "Got a new system for beatin' chuck-a-luck, or bin promoted?" - -"No, nothin'! Nothin's happened," said Shorty curtly, as he hastily -shoved the letter into his blouse pocket. "Will you watch them beans -bilin' while I go down to the spring and git some water?" - -He picked up the camp-kettle and started. He wanted to be utterly alone, -even from Si, with his new-born thought. He did not go directly to the -spring, but took another way to a clump of pawpaw bushes, which would -hide him from the observation of everyone. There he sat down, pulled out -the letter again, and read it over carefully, word by word. - -"Wants me to write whether I got the socks," he130 mused. "You jest bet -I will. I've a great mind to ask for a furlough to go up to Wisconsin, -and find out Bad Ax. I wonder how fur it is. I'll go over to the -Suiter's and git some paper and envelopes, and write to her this very -afternoon." - -He carried his camp-kettle back to the house, set it down, and making -some excuse, set off for the Sutler's shop. - -"Le'me see your best paper and envelopes," he said to the pirate who had -license to fleece the volunteers. - -"Awfully common trash," said Shorty, looking over the assortment -disdainfully, for he wanted something superlatively fine for his letter. -"Why don't you git something fit for a gentleman to write to a lady on? -Something with gold edges on the paper and envelopes, and perfumed? I -never write to a lady except on gilt-edged paper, smellin' o' bergamot, -and musk, and citronella, and them things. I don't think it's good -taste." - -"Well, think what you please," said the Sutler. "That's all the kind I -have, and that's all the kind you'll git. Take it or leave it." - -Shorty finally selected a quire of heavy letter paper and a bunch of -envelopes, both emblazoned with patriotic and warlike designs in -brilliant red and blue. - -"Better take enough," he said to himself. "I've been handlin' a pick and -shovel and gun so much that I'm afeared my hand isn't as light as it -used to be, and I'll have to spile several sheets before I git it just -right." - -On his way back he decided to go by the camp of131 one of the Wisconsin -regiments and learn what he could of Bad Ax and its people. - -"Is there a town in your State called Bad Ax?" he asked of the first man -he met with "Wis." on his cap. - -"Cert'," was the answer. "And another one called Milwaukee, one called -Madison, and another called Green Bay. Are you studying primary -geography, or just getting up a postoffice directory?" - -"Don't be funny, Skeezics," said Shorty severely. "Know anything about -it? Mighty nice place, ain't it?" - -"Know anything about it? I should say so. My folks live in Bad Ax -County. It's the toughest, ornerist little hole in the State. Run by -lead-miners. More whisky-shanties than dwellings. It's tough, I tell -you." - -"I believe you're an infernal liar," said Shorty, turning away in wrath. - -Not being fit for duty, he could devote all his time to the composition -of the letter. He was so wrought up over it that he could not eat much -dinner, which alarmed Si. - -"What's the matter with your appetite. Shorty?" he asked. "Haint bin -eatin' nothin' that disagreed with you, have you? - -"Naw," answered Shorty impatiently; "nothin' wuss'n army rations. They -always disagree with me when I'm layin' around doin' nothin'. Why, in -the name of goodness, don't the army move? I've got sick o' the sight o' -every cedar and rocky knob in Middle Tennessee. We ought to go down and -take a look at things around Tullahoma, where Mr. Bragg132 is." - -It was Si's turn to clean up after dinner, and, making an excuse of -going over into another camp to see a man who had arrived there, Shorty, -with his paper and envelopes concealed under his blouse, and Si's pen -and wooden ink-stand furtively conveyed to his pocket, picked up the -checkerboard when Si's back was turned, and made his way to the pawpaw -thicket, where he could be unseen and unmolested in the greatest -literary undertaking of his life. - -He took a comfortable seat on a rock, spread the paper on the -checkerboard, and then began vigorously chewing the end of the penholder -to stimulate his thoughts. - -It had been easy to form the determination to write; the desire to do so -was irresistible, but never before had he been confronted with a task -which seemed so overwhelming. Compared with it, struggling with a mule- -train all day through the mud and rain, working with pick and shovel on -the fortifications, charging an enemy's solid line-of-battle, appeared -light and easy performances. He would have gone at either, on the -instant, at the word of command, or without waiting for it, with entire -confidence in his ability to master the situation. But to write a half- -dozen lines to a strange girl, whom he had already enthroned as a lovely -divinity, had more terrors than all of Bragg's army could induce. - -But when Shorty set that somewhat thick head of his upon the doing of a -thing, the thing was tolerably certain to be done in some shape or -another. - -"I believe, if I knowed whore Bad Ax was, I'd git a furlough, and walk -clean there, rather than write a line," he said, as he wiped from his -brow the sweat133 forced out by the labor of his mind. "I always did -hate writin'. I'd rather maul rails out of a twisted elm log any day -than fill up a copy book. But it's got to be done, and the sooner I do -it the sooner the agony 'll be over. Here goes." - -He began laboriously forming each letter with his lips, and still more -laboriously with his stiff fingers, adding one to another, until he had -traced out: - -"Headquarters Co. Q, 200th Injianny Volunteer Infantry, Murfreesboro, -Aprile the 16th eighteen hundred & sixty three." - -The sweat stood out in beads upon his forehead after this effort, but it -was as nothing compared to the strain of deciding how he should address -his correspondent. He wanted to use some term of fervent admiration, but -fear deterred him. He debated the question with himself until his head -fairly ached, when he settled upon the inoffensive phrase: - -"Respected Lady." - -The effort was so exhausting that he had to go down to the spring, take -a deep drink of cold water, and bathe his forehead. But his -determination was unabated, and before the sun went down he had produced -the following: - -"i talk mi pen in hand 2 inform U that ive reseeved the SOX U so kindly -cent, & i thank U 1,000 times 4 them. They are boss sox & no mistake. -They are the bossest sox that ever wuz nit. The man is a lire who sez -they aint. He dassent tel Me so. U are a boss nitter. Even Misses -Clinkun can't hold a candle 2 U. - -"The sox fit me 2 a t, but that is becaws they are nit so wel, & -stretch."134 - -"I wish I knowed some more real strong words to praise her knitting," -said Shorty, reading over the laboriously-written lines. "But after I -have said they're boss what more is there to say? I spose I ought to say -something about her health next. That's polite." And he wrote: - -"ime in fair helth, except my feet are" locoed, & i weigh 156 pounds, & -hope U are injoying the saim blessing." - -"I expect I ought to praise her socks a little more," said he, and -wrote: - -"The SOX are jest boss. They outrank anything in the Army of the -Cumberland." - -After this effort he was compelled to take a long rest. Then he communed -with himself: - -"When a man's writin' to a lady, and especially an educated lady, he -should always throw in a little poetry. It touches her." - -There was another period of intense thought, and then he wrote: - -"Dan Elliott is my name, & single is my station, Injianny is mi dwelling -place, & Christ is mi salvation." - -"Now," he said triumphantly, "that's neat and effective. It tells her a -whole lot about me, and makes her think I know Shakspere by heart. -Wonder if I can't think o' some more? Hum—hum. Yes, here goes: - -"The rose is red, the vilet's blue; ime 4 the Union, so are U." - -Shorty was so tickled over this happy conceit that he fairly hugged -himself, and had to read it over135 several times to admire its beauty. -But it left him too exhausted for any further mental labor than to close -up with: - -"No moar at present, from yours til death. - -"Dan Elliott, - -"Co. Q, 200th injianny Volunteer Infantry." - -He folded up the missive, put it into an envelope, carefully directed to -Miss Jerusha Ellen Briggs, Bad Ax, Wis., and after depositing it in the -box at the Chaplain's tent, plodded homeward, feeling more tired than -after a day's digging on the fortifications. Yet his fatigue was -illuminated by the shimmering light of a fascinating hope. - - - - - -CHAPTER X. TRADING WITH THE REBS THE BOYS HAVE SOME FRIENDLY COMMERCE -WITH THE REBEL PICKETS. - -THE 200th Ind. Volunteer Infantry had been pushed out to watch the -crossings of Duck River and the movements of the rebels on the south -bank of that narrow stream. The rebels, who had fallen into the -incurable habit of objecting to everything that the "Yankees" did, -seemed to have especial and vindictive repugnance to being watched. - -Probably no man, except he be an actor or a politician, likes to be -watched, but few ever showed themselves as spitefully resentful of -observation as the rebels. - -Co. Q was advanced to picket the north bank of the river, but the moment -it reached the top of the hill overlooking the stream it had to deploy -as skirmishers, and Enfield bullets began to sing viciously about its -ears. - -"Looks as if them fellers think we want to steal their old river and -send it North," said Shorty, as he reloaded his gun after firing at a -puff of smoke that had come out of the sumach bushes along the fence at -the foot of the hill. "They needn't be so grouchy. We don't want their -river—only to use it awhile. They kin have it back agin after we're -through with it." - -"Blamed if that feller didn't make a good line137 shot," said Si, -glancing up just above his head to where a twig had been clipped off the -persimmon tree behind which he was standing. "He put up his sights a -little too fur, or he'd 'a' got me." - -Si took careful aim at where he supposed the lurking marksman to be and -fired. - -There was a waving of the tops of the bushes, as if the men concealed -there had rushed out. - -"Guess we both landed mighty close," said Shorty triumphantly. "They -seem to have lost interest in this piece o' sidehill, anyway." - -He and Si made a rush down the hill, and gained the covert of the fence -just in time to see the rails splintered by a bunch of shots striking -them. - -"Lay down, Yanks!" called out Shorty cheerily, dropping into the weeds. -"Grab a root!" - -To the right of them they could see the rest of Co. Q going through -similar performances. - -Si and Shorty pushed the weeds aside, crawled cautiously to the fence, -and looked through. There was a road on the other side of the fence, and -beyond it a grove of large beech trees extending to the bank of the -river. Half concealed by the trunk of one of these stood a tall, rather -good-looking young man, with his gun raised and intently peering into -the bushes. He had seen the tops stir, and knew that his enemies had -gained their cover. He seemed expecting that they would climb the fence -and jump down into the road. At a little distance to his right could be -seen other men on the sharp lookout. - -Shorty put his hand on Si to caution and repress138 him. - -With his eyes fixed on the rebel, Shorty drew his gun toward him. The -hammer caught on a trailing vine, and, forgetting himself, he gave it an -impatient jerk. It went off, the bullet whistling past Shorty's head and -the powder burning his face. - -The rebel instantly fired in return, and cut the leaves about four feet -above Shorty. - -"Purty good shot that, Johnny," called out Shorty as he reloaded his -gun; "but too low. It went between my legs. You hain't no idee how tall -I am." - -"If I couldn't shoot no better'n you kin on a sneak," answered the -rebel, his rammer ringing in his gun-barrel, "I wouldn't handle -firearms. Your bullet went a mile over my head. Must've bin shootin' at -an angel. But you Yanks can't shoot nary bit—you're too skeered." - -"I made you hump out o' the bushes a few minutes ago," replied Shorty, -putting on a cap. "Who was skeered then? You struck for tall timber like -a cotton-tailed rabbit." - -"I'll rabbit ye, ye nigger-lovin' whelp," shouted the rebel. "Take -that," and he fired as close as he could to the sound of Shorty's voice. - -Shorty had tried to anticipate his motion and fired first, but the limbs -bothered his aim, and his bullet went a foot to the right of the rebel's -head. It was close enough, however, to make the rebel cover himself -carefully with the tree. - -"That was a much better shot, Yank," he called out. "But ye orter do a -powerful sight better'n that on a sneak. Ye'd never kill no deer, nor -rebels nuthor, with that kind o' shootin'. You Yanks are139 great on the -sneak, but that's all the good it does, yet ye can't shoot fer a handful -o' huckleberries." - -"Sneaks! Can't shoot!" roared Shorty. "I kin outshoot you or any other -man in Jeff Davis's kingdom. I dare you to come out from behind your -tree, and take a shot with me in the open, accordin' to Hardee's -tactics. Your gun's empty; so's mine. My chum here'll see fair play; and -you kin bring your chum with you. Come out, you skulkin' brindle pup, -and shoot man fashion, if you dare."140 - -"Ye can't dare me, ye nigger-stealin' blue-belly," shouted the rebel in -return, coming out from behind his tree. Shorty climbed over the fence -and stood at the edge of the road, with his gun at order arms. Si came -out on Shorty's left, and a rebel appeared to the right of the first. -For a minute all stood in expectancy. Then Shorty spoke: - -"I want nuthin' but what's fair. Your gun's empty; so's mine. You -probably know Hardee's tactics as well as I do." - -"I'm up in Hardee," said the rebel with a firm voice. - -"Well, then," continued Shorty, "let my chum here call off the orders -for loadin' and firin', and we'll both go through 'em, and shoot at the -word." - -"Go ahead—I'm agreed," said the rebel briefly. - -Shorty nodded to Si. - -"Carry arms," commanded Si. - -Both brought their guns up to their right sides. - -"Present arms." - -Both courteously saluted. - -"Load in nine times—Load," ordered Si. - -Both guns came down at the same instant, each man grasped his muzzle -with his left hand, and reached for his cartridge-box, awaiting the next -order. - -"Handle cartridges." - -"Tear cartridges." - -"Charge cartridges," repeated Si slowly and distinctly. The rebel's -second nodded approval of his knowledge of the drill, and sang out: - -"Good soldiers, all of yo'uns." - -"Draw rammer," continued Si,141 - -"Turn rammer." - -"Ram cartridge." - -Shorty punctiliously executed the three blows on the cartridge exacted -by the regulations, and paused a breath for the next word. The rebel had -sent his cartridge home with one strong thrust, but he saw his -opponent's act and waited. - -"Return rammer," commanded Si. He was getting a little nervous, but -Shorty deliberately withdrew his rammer, turned it, placed one end in -the thimbles, deliberately covered the head with his little finger, -exactly as the tactics prescribed, and sent it home with a single -movement. The rebel had a little trouble in returning rammer, and Shorty -and Si waited. - -"Cast about," - -"Prime!" - -Both men capped at the same instant. - -"Ready!" - -Shorty cocked his piece and glanced at the rebel, whose gun was at his -side. - -"Aim!" - -Both guns came up like a flash. - -The Duel. 139 - -Si's heart began thumping at a terrible rate. He was far more alarmed -about Shorty than he had ever been about himself. Up to this moment he -had hoped that Shorty's coolness and deliberation would "rattle" the -rebel and make him fire wildly. But the latter, as Si expressed it -afterward, "seemed to be made of mighty good stuff," and it looked as if -both would be shot down. - -"Fire!" shouted Si, with a perceptible tremor in his voice.142 - -Both guns flashed at the same instant. Si saw Shorty's hat fly off, and -him stagger and fall, while the rebel dropped his gun, and clapped his -hand to his side. Si ran toward Shorty, who instantly sprang up again, -rubbing his head, from which came a faint trickle of blood. - -"He aimed at my head, and jest scraped my scalp," he said. "Where'd I -hit him? I aimed at his heart, and had a good bead." - -"You seem to have struck him in the side," answered Si, looking at the -rebel. "But not badly, for he's still standin' up. Mebbe you broke a rib -though." - -"Couldn't, if he's still up. I must file my trigger Gun pulls too hard. -I had a dead aim on his heart, but I seem to've pulled too much to the -right." - -"Say, I'll take a turn with you," said Si, picking up his gun and -motioning with his left hand at the other rebel. - -"All right," answered the other promptly. "My gun ain't loaded, though." - -"I'll wait for you," said Si, looking at the cap on his gun. A loud -cheer was heard from far to the right, and Co. Q was seen coming forward -on a rush, with the rebels in front running back to the river bank. -Several were seen to be overtaken and forced to surrender. - -The two rebels in front of the boys gave a startled look at their -comrades, then at the boys, and turned to run. Si raised his gun to -order them to halt. - -"No," said Shorty. "Let 'em go. It was a fair bargain, and I'll stick to -it. Skip out Johnnies, for every cent you're worth."143 - -The rebels did not wait for the conclusion of the sentence, but followed -their comrades with alacrity. - -The boys ran forward through the woods to the edge of the bank, and saw -their opponents climbing up the opposite bank and getting behind the -sheltering trees. Si waited till his particular one got good shelter -behind a large sycamore, and then sent a bullet that cut closely above -his head. - -This was the signal for a general and spiteful fusillade from both sides -of the river and all along the line. The rebels banged away as if in -red-hot wrath at being run across the stream, and Co. Q retorted with -such earnestness that another company was sent forward to its -assistance, but returned when the Irish Lieutenant, who had gone forward -to investigate, reported: - -"Faith, its loike the divil shearing a hog—all cry and no wool at all." - -So it was. Both sides found complete shelter behind the giant trunks of -the trees, and each fired at insignificant portions of the anatomy -allowed to momentarily protrude beyond the impenetrable boles. - -After this had gone on for about half an hour those across the river -from Si and Shorty called out: - -"Say, Yanks, ye can't shoot down a beech tree with a Springfield musket, -nohow ye kin do it. If we'uns hain't killin' more o' yo'uns than yo'uns -is a-killin' o' we'uns, we'uns air both wastin' a powerful lot o' powder -an' lead and good shootin'. What d' yo'uns say to King's excuse for -awhile?" - -"We're agreed," said Si promptly, stepping from144 behind the tree, and -leaving his gun standing against it. - -"Hit's a go," responded the rebels, coming out disarmed. "We'uns won't -shoot no more till ordered, an' then'll give yo'uns warnin' fust." - -The Overture for Trade. 144 - -"All right; we'll give you warning before we shoot," coincided Si. - -"Say, have yo'uns got any Yankee coffee that145 you'll trade for a good -plug o' terbacker?" inquired the man whom Si had regarded as his -particular antagonist. - -"Yes," answered Si. "We've got a little. We'll give you a cupful for a -long plug with none cut off." - -"What kind of a cupful?" asked the bartering "Johnny." - -"A big, honest cupful. One o' this kind," said Si, showing his. - -"All right. Hit's to be strike measure," said the rebel. "Here's the -plug," and he held up a long plug of "natural leaf." - -"O. K.," responded Si. "Meet me half way." - -The truce had quickly extended, and the firing suspended all along the -line of Co. Q. The men came out from behind their trees, and sat down on -the banks in open view of one another. - -Si filled his cup "heaping-full" with coffee, climbed down the bank and -waded out into the middle of the water. The rebel met him there, while -his companion and Shorty stood on the banks above and watched the trade. - -"Y're givin' me honest measure, Yank," said the rebel, looking at the -cup. "Now, if ye hain't filled the bottom o' yer cup with coffee that's -bin biled before, I'll say y're all right. Some o' yo'uns air so dod- -gasted smart that y' poke off on we'uns coffee that's bin already biled, -and swindle we'uns." - -"Turn it out and see," said Si. - -The rebel emptied the cup into a little bag, carefully scrutinizing the -stream as it ran in. It was all fine, fragrant, roasted and ground -coffee.146 - -"Lord, thar's enough t' last me a month with keer," said the rebel, -gazing unctuously at the rich brown grains. "I won't use more'n a -spoonful a day, an' bile hit over twice. Yank, here's yer terbacker. -I've made a good trade. Here's a Chatanooga paper I'll throw in to boot. -Got a Northern paper about ye anywhar?" - -Si produced a somewhat frayed Cincinnati Gazette. - -"I can't read myself," said the rebel, as he tucked the paper away. -"Never l'arned to. Pap wuz agin hit. Said hit made men lazy. He got -erlong without readin', and raised the biggest fambly on Possum Crick. -But thar's a feller in my mess kin read everything but the big words, -and I like t' git a paper for him to read to the rest o' we'uns." - -"Was your pardner badly hurt by mine's shot?" asked Si. - -"No. The bullet jest scraped the bone. He'll be likely to have a stitch -in his side for awhile, but he's a very peart man, and won't mind that. -I'm s'prised he didn't lay your pardner out. He's the best shot in our -company." - -"Well, he was buckin' agin a mighty good shot, and I'm surprised your -pardner's alive. I wouldn't 've given three cents for him when Shorty -drawed down on him; but Shorty's bin off duty for awhile, and his gun's -not in the best order. Howsumever, I'm awful glad that it come out as it -did. His life's worth a dozen rebels." - -"The blazes you say. I'd have you know, Yank, that one Confederit is -wuth a whole rijimint o' Lincoln hirelings. I'll—"147 - -"O, come off—come off—that's more o' your old five-to-one gas," said Si -irritatingly. "I thought we'd walloped that dumbed nonsense out o' your -heads long ago. We've showed right along that, man for man, we're a -sight better'n you. We've always licked you when we've had anything like -a fair show. At Stone River you had easy two men to our one, and yit we -got away with you." - -"'Tain't so. It's a lie. If hit wuzzent for the148 Dutch and Irish you -hire, you couldn't fight we'uns at all." - -"Look here, reb," said Si, getting hot around the ears, "I'm neither a -Dutchman nor an Irishman; we hain't a half dozen in our company. I'm a -better man than you've got in your regiment. Either me or Shorty kin -lick any man you put up; Co. Q kin lick your company single-handed and -easy; the 200th Injianny kin lick any regiment in the rebel army. To -prove it, I kin lick you right here." - -Si Wants a Fight 147 - -Si thrust the plug of tobacco into his blouse pocket and began rolling -up his sleeves. - -The rebel did not seem at all averse to the trial and squared off at -him. Then Shorty saw the belligerent attitude and yelled: - -"Come, Si. Don't fight there. That's no place. If you're goin' to fight, -come up on level ground, where it kin be fair and square. Come up here, -or we'll go over there." - -"O, come off," shouted the rebel on the other side. "Don't be a fool, -Bill. Fist-foutin' don't settle nothin'. Come back here and git your gun -if ye want to fout. But don't le's fout no more to-day. Thar's plenty of -it for ter-morrer. Le's keep quiet and peaceful now. I want powerfully -to take a swim. Air you fellers agreed?" - -"Yes; yes," shouted Shorty. "You fellers keep to your side o' the river, -and we will to ours." - -The agreement was carried into instantaneous effect, and soon both sides -of the stream were filled with laughing, romping, splashing men. - -There was something very exhilarating in the cool, clear, mountain water -of the stream. The boys149 got to wrestling, and Si came off victorious -in two or three bouts with his comrades. - -"Cock-a-doodle-doo," he shouted, imitating the crow of a rooster. "I kin -duck any man in the 200th Injianny." - -The challenge reached the ears of the rebel with whom Si had traded. He -was not satisfied with the result of his conference. - -"You kin crow over your fellers, Yank," he shouted; "but you dassent -come to the middle an' try me two falls outen three." - -Si immediately made toward him. They surveyed each other warily for a -minute to get the advantages of the first clinch, when a yell came from -the rebel side: - -"Scatter, Confeds! Hunt yer holes, Yanks! The Cunnel's a-comin'." - -Both sides ran up their respective banks, snatched up their guns, took -their places behind their trees, and opened a noisy but harmless fire. - -150 - - - - -CHAPTER XI. SHORTY'S CORRESPONDENT GETS A LETTER FROM BAD AX, WIS., AND -IS ALMOST OVERCOME WITH JOY. - -SHORTY had always been conspicuously lacking in the general interest -which his comrades had shown in the mails. Probably at some time in his -life he had had a home like the rest of them, but for some reason home -now played no part in his thoughts. The enlistment and muster-rolls -stated that he was born in Indiana, but he was a stranger in the -neighborhood when he enrolled himself in Co. Q. - -His revelations as to his past were confined to memories of things which -happened "when I was cuttin' wood down the Mississippi," or "when I was -runnin' on an Ohio sternwheel." - -He wrote no letters and received none. And when the joyful cry, "Mail's -come," would send everybody else in the regiment on a run to the -Chaplain's tent, in eager anticipation, to jostle one another in -impatience, until the contents of the mailpouch were distributed, Shorty -would remain indifferent in his tent, without an instant's interruption -in his gun cleaning, mending, or whatever task he might have in hand. - -A change came over him after he sent his letter to Bad Ax, Wis. The cry, -"Mail's come," would make151 him start, in spite of himself, and before -he could think to maintain his old indifference. He was ashamed, lest he -betray his heart's most secret thoughts. - -The matter of the secure transmission of the mails between camp and home -began to receive his earnest attention. He feared that the authorities -were not taking sufficient precautions. The report that John Morgan's -guerrillas had captured a train between Louisville and Nashville, rifled -the mail car, and carried off the letters, filled him with burning -indignation, both against Morgan and his band and the Generals who had -not long ago exterminated that pestiferous crowd. - -He had some severe strictures on the slovenly way in which the mail was -distributed from the Division and Brigade Headquarters to the regiments. -It was a matter, he said, which could not be done too carefully. It was -a great deal more important than the distribution of rations. A man -would much rather lose several days' rations than a letter from home. He -could manage in some way to get enough to live on, but nothing would -replace a lost letter. - -Then, he would have fits of silent musing, sometimes when alone, -sometimes when with Si in the company, over the personality of the fair -stocking-knitter of Wisconsin and the letter he had sent her. He would -try to recall the exact wording of each sentence he had laboriously -penned, and wonder how it impressed her, think how it might have been -improved, and blame himself for not having been more outspoken in his -desire to hear from her again. He would steal off into the brush, pull -out the socks152 and letter, which he kept carefully wrapped up in a -sheet of the heavy letter paper, and read over the letter carefully -again, although he knew every word of it by heart. These fits alarmed -Si. - -"I'm af eared," he confided to some cronies, "that rebel bullet hurt -Shorty more'n he'll let on. He's not actin' like hisself at times. That -bullet scraped so near his thinkery that it may have addled it. It was -an awful close shave." - -"Better talk to the Surgeon," said they. "Glancing bullets sometimes -hurt worse'n they seem to." - -"No, the bullet didn't hurt Shorty, any more than make a scratch," said -the Surgeon cheerfully when Si laid the case before him. "I examined him -carefully. That fellow's head is so hard that no mere scraping is going -to affect it. You'd have to bore straight through it, and I'd want at -least a six-pounder to do it with if I was going to undertake the job. -An Indiana head may not be particularly fine, but it is sure to be -awfully solid and tough. No; his system's likely to be out of order. You -rapscallions will take no care of yourselves, in spite of all that I can -say, but will eat and drink as if you were ostriches. He's probably a -little off his feed, and a good dose of bluemass followed up with -quinine will bring him around all right. Here, take these, and give them -to him." - -The Surgeon was famous for prescribing bluemass and quinine for every -ailment presented to him, from sore feet to "shell fever." Si received -the medicines with a proper show of thankfulness, saluted, and left. As -he passed through the clump if bushes he was tempted to add them to -the153 collection of little white papers which marked the trail from the -Surgeon's tent, but solicitude for his comrade restrained him. The -Surgeon was probably right, and it was Si's duty to do all that he could -to bring Shorty around again to his normal condition. But how in the -world was he going to get his partner to take the medicine? Shorty had -the resolute antipathy to drugs common to all healthy men. - -It was so grave a problem that Si sat down on a log to think about it. -As was Si's way, the more he thought about it, the more determined he -became to do it, and when Si Klegg determined to do a thing, that thing -was pretty nearly as good as done. - -"I kin git him to take the quinine easy enough," he mused. "All I've got -to do is to put it in a bottle o' whisky, and he'd drink it if there wuz -40 'doses o' quinine in it. But the bluemass's a very different thing. -He's got to swaller it in a lump, and what in the world kin I put it in -that he'll swaller whole?" - -Si wandered over to the Sutler's in hopes of seeing something there that -would help him. He was about despairing when he noticed a boy open a can -of large, yellow peaches. - -"The very thing," said Si, slapping his thigh. "Say, young man, gi' me a -can o' peaches jest like them." - -Si took his can and carefully approached his tent, that he might decide -upon his plan before Shorty could see him and his load. He discovered -that Shorty was sitting at a little distance, with his back to him, -cleaning his gun, which he had taken apart. - -"Bully," thought Si. "Just the thing. His hands154 are dirty and greasy, -and he won't want to tech anything to eat." - -He slipped into the tent, cut open the can, took out a large peach with -a spoon, laid the pellet of bluemass in it, laid another slice of peach -upon it, and then came around in front of Shorty, holding out the spoon. - -"Open your mouth and shut your eyes, Shorty," he said. "I saw some o' -the nicest canned peaches down at the Sutler's, and I suddenly got -hungry for some. I bought a can and brung 'em up to the tent. Jest try -'em." - -He stuck the spoon out towards Shorty's mouth. The latter, with his -gunlock in one hand and a greasy rag in the other, looked at the -tempting morsel, opened his mouth, and the deed was done. - -"Must've left a stone in that peach," he said, as he gulped it down. - -"Mebbe so," said Si, with a guilty flush, and pretending to examine the -others. "But I don't find none in the rest Have another?" - -Shorty swallowed two or three spoonfuls more, and then gasped: - -"They're awful nice, Si, but I've got enough. Keep the rest for -yourself." - -Si went back to the tent and finished the can with mingled emotions of -triumph at having succeeded, and of contrition at playing a trick on his -partner. He decided to make amends for the latter by giving Shorty an -unusually large quantity of whisky to take with his quinine. - -Si was generally very rigid in his temperance ideas, He strongly -disapproved of Shorty's155 drinking, and always interposed all the -obstacles he could in the way of it. But this was an extraordinary -case—it would be "using liquor for a medicinal purpose"—and his -conscience was quieted. - -Co. Q had one of those men—to be found in every company—who can get -whisky under apparently any and all circumstances. In every company -there is always one man who seemingly can find something to get drunk on -in the midst of the Desert of Sahara. To Co. Q's representative of this -class Si went, and was piloted to where, after solemn assurances against -"giving away," he procured a halfpint of fairly-good applejack, into -which he put his doses of quinine. - -In the middle of the night Shorty woke up with a yell. - -"Great Cesar's ghost!" he howled, "what's the matter with me? I'm -sicker'n a dog. Must've bin them dodgasted peaches. Si, don't you feel -nothin'?" - -"No," said Si sheepishly; "I'm all right. Didn't you eat nothin' else -but them?" - -"Naw," said Shorty disgustedly. "Nothin' but my usual load o' hardtack -and pork. Yes, I chawed a piece o' sassafras root that one of the boys -dug up." - -"Must've bin the sassafras root," said Si. He hated to lie, and made a -resolution that he would make a clean breast to Shorty—at some more -convenient time. It was not opportune now. "That must've bin a -sockdologer of a dose the Surgeon gave me," he muttered to himself. - -Shorty continued to writhe and howl, and Si made156 a hypocritical offer -of going for the Surgeon, but Shorty vetoed that emphatically. - -"No; blast old Sawbones," he said. "He won't do nothin' but give me -bluemass, and quinine, and I never could nor would take bluemass. It's -only fit for horses and hogs." - -Toward morning Shorty grew quite weak, and correspondingly depressed. - -"Si," said he, "I may not git over this. This may be the breakin' out o' -the cholera that the folks around here say comes every seven years and -kills off the strangers. Si, I'll tell you a secret. A letter may come -for me. If I don't git over this, and the letter comes, I want you to -burn it up without reading it, and write a letter to Miss Jerusha Ellen -Briggs, Bad Ax, Wis., tellin' her that I died like a man and soldier, -and with her socks on, defendin' his country." - -Si whistled softly to himself. "I'll do it. Shorty," he said, and -repeated the address to make sure. - -The crisis soon passed, however, and the morning found Shorty bright and -cheerful, though weak. - -Si was puzzled how to get the whisky to Shorty. It would never do to let -him know that he had gotten it especially for him. That would have been -so contrary to Si's past as to arouse suspicion. He finally decided to -lay it where it would seem that someone passing had dropped it, and -Shorty could not help finding it. The plan worked all right. Shorty -picked it up in a few minutes after Si had deposited it, and made quite -an ado over his treasure trove. - -"Splendid applejack," he said, tasting it; "little bitter, but that -probably comes from their using157 dogwood in the fires when they're -'stilhn'. They know that dogwood'll make the liquor bitter, but they're -too all-fired lazy to go after any other kind o' wood." He drank, and as -he drank his spirits rose. After the first dram he thought he would -clean around the tent, and make their grounds look neater than anybody -else's. After the second he turned his attention to his arms and -accouterments. After the third he felt like going out on a scout and -finding some rebels to vary the monotony of the camp-life. After the -fourth, "Groundhog," unluckily for himself, came along, and Shorty -remembered that he had long owed the teamster a licking, and he felt -that the debt should not be allowed to run any longer. He ordered -Groundhog to halt and receive his dues. The teamster demurred, but -Shorty was obdurate, and began preparations to put his intention into -operation, when the Orderly-Sergeant came down through the company -street distributing mail. - -Shorty Wants to Fight Groundhog 157 - -"Shorty," he said, entirely ignoring the bellicosity of the scene, -"here's a letter for you." - -Shorty's first thought was to look at the postmark. Sure enough, it was -Bad Ax, Wis. Instantly his whole demeanor changed. Here was something a -hundred times more important than licking any teamster that ever lived. - -"Git out, you scab," he said contemptuously. "I haint no time to fool -with you now. You'll keep. This won't." - -Groundhog mistook the cause of his escape. "O, you're powerful anxious -to fight, ain't you, till you find I'm ready for you, and then you quiet -down. I'll let you know, sir, that you mustn't give me no more o' your -sass. I won't stand it from you. You jest keep your mouth shet after -this, if you know when you're well off." - -The temptation would have been irresistible to Shorty at any other time, -but now he must go off somewhere where he could be alone with his -letter, and to the amazement of all the spectators he made no reply to -the teamster's gibes, but holding the159 precious envelope firmly in his -hand, strode off to the seclusion of a neighboring laurel thicket. - -His first thought, as he sat down and looked the envelope over again, -was shame that it had come to him when he was under the influence of -drink. He remembered the writer's fervent Christianity, and it seemed to -him that it would be a gross breach of faith for him to open and read -the letter while the fumes of whisky were on his breath. He had a -struggle with his burning desire to see the inside of the envelope, but -he conquered, and put the letter back in his pocket until he was -thoroughly sober. - -But he knew not what to do to fill up the time till he could -conscientiously open the letter. He thought of going back and fulfilling -his long-delayed purpose of thrashing Groundhog, but on reflection this -scarcely commended itself as a fitting prelude. - -He heard voices approaching—one sympathetic and encouraging, the other -weak, pain-breathing, almost despairing. He looked out and saw the -Chaplain helping back to the hospital a sick man who had over-estimated -his strength and tried to reach his company. The man sat down on a rock, -in utter exhaustion. - -Shorty thrust the letter back into his blousepocket, sprang forward, -picked the man up in his strong arms, and carried him bodily to the -hospital. It taxed his strength to the utmost, but it sobered him and -cleared his brain. - -He returned to his covert, took out his letter, and again scanned its -exterior carefully. He actually feared to open it, but at last drew his -knife and carefully slit one side. He unfolded the inclosure as160 -carefully as if it had been a rare flower, and with palpitating heart -slowly spelled out the words, one after another: - -Shorty Reading the Letter 160 - -"Bad Ax, Wisconsin, - -"April the Twenty-First, 1863. - -"Mister Daniel Elliott, Company Q, 200th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. - -"Respected Sir: I taik my pen in hand toe inform you that I am wel, and -hoap that you aire in joying161 the saim blessing. For this, God be -prazed and magnified forever." - -"Goodness, how religious she is," said he, stopping to ruminate. "How -much nicer it makes a woman to be pious. It don't hurt a man much to be -a cuss—at least while he's young—but I want a woman to be awfully -religious. It sets her off more'n anything else." - -He continued his spelling exercise: - -"I am verry glad that my sox reached you all rite, that they fell into -the hands of a braiv, pious Union soldier, and he found them nice." - -"Brave, pious Union soldier," he repeated to himself, with a whistle. -"Jewhilikins, I'm glad Bad Ax, Wis., is so fur away that she never heard -me makin' remarks when a mule-team's stalled. But I must git a brace on -myself, and clean up my langwidge for inspection-day." - -He resumed the spelling: - -"I done the best I could on them, and moren that no one can do. Wimmen -cant fite in this cruel war, but they ought all to do what they can. I -only wish I could do more. But the wimmen must stay at home and watch -and wait, while the men go to the front." - -"That's all right. Miss Jerusha Ellen Briggs," said he, with more -satisfaction. "You jest stay at home and watch and wait, and I'll try to -do fightin' enough for both of us. I'll put in some extra licks in -future on your account, and they won't miss you from the front." - -The next paragraph read: - -"I should like to hear more of you and your162 regiment. The only time I -ever beared of the 200th Indiana regiment was in a letter writ home by -one of our Wisconsin boys and published in the Bad Ax Grindstone, in -which he said they wuz brigaded with the 200th Indiana, a good fighting -regiment, but which would stele even the shoes off the brigade mules if -they wuzzent watched, and sumtimes when they wuz. Ime sorry to hear that -any Union soldier is a thief. I know that our boys from Wisconsin would -rather die than stele." - -"Steal! The 200th Injianny steal!" Shorty flamed out in a rage. "Them -flabbergasted, knock-kneed, wall-eyed Wisconsin whelps writin' home that -the Injiannians are thieves! The idee o' them longhaired, splay-footed -lumbermen, them chuckleheaded, wap-sided, white-pine butchers talking -about anybody else's honesty. Why, they wuz born stealin'. They never -knowed anything else. They'd steal the salt out o' your hardtack. They'd -steal the lids off the Bible. They talk about the 200th Injiannny! I'd -like to find the liar that writ that letter. I'd literally pound the -head offen him." - -It was some time before he could calm himself down sufficiently to -continue his literary exercise. Then he made out: - -"Spring's lait here, but things is looking very well. Wheat wintered -good, and a big crop is expected. We had a fine singing-school during -the Winter, but the protracted meeting drawed off a good many. We doant -complain, however, for the revival brought a great many into the fold. -No moar at present, but belave me - -"Sincerly Your Friend, - -"Jerusha Ellen Briggs."163 - -Shorty's heart almost choked him when he finished. It was the first time -in his hfe that he had received a letter from any woman. It was the -first time since his mother's days that any woman had shown the -slightest interest in his personality. And, true man like, his impulses -were to exalt this particular woman into something above the mere -mortal. - -Then came a hot flush of indignation that the Wisconsin men should -malign his regiment, which, of course, included him, to the mind of such -a being. He burned to go over and thrash the first Wisconsin man he -should meet. - -"Call us thieves; say we'll steal," he muttered, as he walked toward the -Wisconsin camp. "I'll learn 'em different." - -He did not see anybody in the camp that he could properly administer -this needed lesson to. All the vigorous, able-bodied members seemed to -be out on drill or some other duty, leaving only a few sick moping -around the tents. - -Shorty's attention was called to a spade lying temptingly behind one of -the tents. He and Si had badly wanted a spade for several days. Here was -an opportunity to acquire one. Shorty sauntered carelessly around to the -rear of the tent, looked about to see that no one was observing, picked -up the implement and walked off with it with that easy, innocent air -that no one could assume with more success than he when on a predatory -expedition. - - - - - -CHAPTER XII. THE BAN ON WET GOODS SI HAS A HARD TIME TRYING TO KEEP -WHISKY OUT OF CAMP. - -"DETAIL for guard to-morrow," sang out the Orderly-Sergeant, after he -had finished the evening roll-call: "Bailey, Belcher, Doolittle, -Elliott, Fracker, Gleason, Hendricks, Hummerson. Long, Mansur, Nolan, -Thompson." - -"Corp'l Klegg, you will act as Sergeant of the Guard. - -"Dan Elliott will act as Corporal of the Guard." It is one of the -peculiarities of men that the less they have to do the less they want to -do. The boys of Co. Q were no different from the rest. When they were in -active service a more lively, energetic crowd could not be found in the -army. They would march from daybreak till midnight, and build roads, dig -ditches, and chop trees on the way. They were ready and willing for any -service, and none were louder than they in their condemnation when they -thought that the officers did not order done what should be. But when -lying around camp, with absolutely nothing to do but ordinary routine, -they developed into the laziest mortals that breathed. To do a turn of -guard duty was a heart-breaking affliction, and the Orderly-Sergeant's -announcement of those who were detailed for the morrow brought forth a -yell of protest from every man whose name was called.165 - -"I only come off guard day before yesterday," shouted Bailey. - -"I'm sick, and can't walk a step," complained Belcher, who had walked 15 -miles the day before, hunting "pies-an'-milk." - -"That blamed Orderly's got a spite at me; he'd keep me on guard every -day in the week," grumbled Doolittle. - -"I was on fatigue dooty only yesterday," protested Fracker, who had to -help carry the company rations from the Commissary's tent. - -"I'm goin' to the Surgeon an' git an excuse," said Gleason, who had -sprained his wrist a trifle in turning a handspring. - -So it went through the whole list. - -"I want to see every gun spick-and-span, every blouse brushed and -buttoned, and every shoe neatly blacked, when I march you up to the -Adjutant," said the Orderly, entirely oblivious to the howls. "If any of -you don't, he'll have a spell of digging up roots on the parade. I won't -have such a gang of scarecrows as I have had to march out the last few -days. You fellows make a note of that, and govern yourselves -accordingly." - -"Right face—Break ranks—March!" - -"Corp'l Klegg," said the Officer of the Day the next morning, as Si was -preparing to relieve the old guard, "the Colonel is very much worked up -over the amount of whisky that finds its way into camp. Now that we are -out here by ourselves we certainly ought to be able to control this. Yet -there was a disgusting number of drunken men in camp yesterday, and a -lot of trouble that should not be. The Colonel has166 talked very -strongly on this subject, and he expects us to-day to put a stop to -this. I want you to make an extra effort to keep whisky out. I think you -can do it if you try real hard." - -"I'll do my best, sir," said Si, saluting. - -"Shorty," Si communed with his next in rank before they started on their -rounds with the first relief, "we must see that there's no whisky brung -into camp this day." - -"You jest bet your sweet life there won't be, either," returned Shorty. -He felt not a little elated over his brevet rank and the -responsibilities of his position as Corporal of the Guard. "This here -camp'll be as dry as the State o' Maine to-day." - -It was a hot, dull day, with little to occupy the time of those off -guard. As usual, Satan was finding "some mischief for idle hands to do." - -After he put on the first relief, Si went back to the guard tent and -busied himself awhile over the details of work to be found there. There -were men under sentence of hard labor that he had to find employment -for, digging roots, cleaning up the camp, chopping wood and making -trenches. He got the usual chin-music from those whom he set to enforced -toil, about the injustice of their sentences and "the airs that some -folks put on when they wear a couple of stripes," but he took this -composedly, and after awhile went the rounds to look over his guard- -line, taking Shorty with him. - -Everything seemed straight and soldierly, and they sat down by a cool -spring in a little shady hollow. - -"Did you ever notice, Shorty," said Si, speculatively, as he looked over -the tin cup of cool water he167 was sipping, "how long and straight and -string-like the cat-brier grows down here in this country? You see 25 or -30 feet of it at times no thicker'n wooltwine. Now, there's a piece -layin' right over there, on t'other side o' the branch, more'n a rod -long, and no thicker'n a rye straw." - -"I see it, an' I never saw a piece o' cat-brier move endwise before," -said Shorty, fixing his eyes on the string-like green. - -"As sure's you're alive, it is movin'," said Si, starting to rise. - -"Set still, keep quiet an' watch," admonished Shorty. "You'll find out -more." - -Si sat still and looked. The direction the brier was moving was toward -the guard-line, some 100 feet away to the left. About the same distance -to the right was a thicket of alders, where Si thought he heard voices. -There were indications in the weeds that the cat-brier extended to -there. - -The brier maintained its outward motion. Presently a clump of rags was -seen carried along by it. - -"They're sending out their money for whisky," whispered Shorty. "Keep -quiet, and we'll confiscate the stuff when it comes in." - -They saw the rag move straight toward the guardline, and pass under the -log on which the sentry walked when he paced his beat across the branch. -It finally disappeared in a bunch of willows. - -Presently a bigger rag came out from the willows, in response to the -backward movement of the long cat-brier, and crawled slowly back under -the log and into camp. As it came opposite Si jumped out, put his foot -on the cat-brier and lifted up the rag. He168 found, as he had expected, -that it wrapped up a pint flask of whisky. - -"O, come off, Si; come off, Shorty!" appealed some of Co. Q from the -alders. "Drop that. You ain't goin' to be mean, boy's. You don't need to -know nothin' about that, an' why go makin' yourselves fresh when there's -no necessity? We want that awful bad, and we've paid good money for it." - -"No, sir," said Shorty sternly, as he twisted the bottle off, and -smashed it on the stones. "No whisky goes into this camp. I'm astonished -at you. Whisky's a cuss. It's the bane of the army. It's the worm that -never dies. Its feet lead down to hell. Who hath vain babblings? Who -hath redness of eyes? The feller that drinks likker, and especially -Tennessee rotgut." - -"O, come off; stop that dinged preaching, Shorty," said one impatiently. -"There's nobody in this camp that likes whisky better'n you do; there's -nobody that'll go further to get it, an' there's nobody up to more -tricks to beat the guard." - -"What I do as a private soldier, Mr. Blakesley," said Shorty with -dignity, "haint nothing to do with my conduct when I'm charged with -responsible dooty. It's my dooty to stop the awful practice o' likker- -drinkin' in this camp, an' I'm goin' to do it, no matter what the cost. -You jest shet up that clam-shell o' your'n an' stop interfering with -your officers." - -Si and Shorty went outside the lines to the clump of willows, but they -were not quick enough to catch Groundhog, the teamster, and the civilian -whom our readers will remember as having his head shaved in the camp at -Murfreesboro some weeks before. They169 found, however, a jug of new and -particularly rasping apple-jack. There was just an instant of wavering -in Shorty's firmness when he uncorked the jug and smelled its contents. -He lifted it to his lips, to further confirm its character, and Si -trembled, for he saw the longing in his partner's eyes. The latter's -hand shook a little as the first few drops touched his tongue, but with -the look of a hero he turned and smashed the jug on a stone. - -"You're solid. Shorty," said Si. - -"Yes, but it was an awful wrench. Le's git away from the smell o' the -stuff," answered Shorty. "I'm afraid it'll be too much for me yit." - -"Corporal of the Guard, Post No. 1." - -"Sergeant of the Guard, Post No. 1," came down the line of sentries as -the two boys were sauntering back to camp. - -"Somethin's happening over there at the gate," said Si, and they -quickened their steps in the direction of the main entrance to the camp. - -They found there a lank, long-haired, ragged Tennesseean, with a -tattered hat of white wool on his head. His scanty whiskers were -weather-beaten, he had lost most of his front teeth, and as he talked he -spattered everything around with tobacco-juice. He rode on a blind, raw- -bone horse, which, with a dejected, broken-down mule, was attached by -ropes, fragments of straps, withes, and pawpaw bark to a shackly wagon. - -In the latter were some strings of dried apples, a pile of crescents of -dried pumpkins, a sack of meal, a few hands of tobacco, and a jug of -buttermilk. - -"I want t' go inter the camps an' sell a leetle jag170 o' truck," the -native explained, as he drenched the surrounding weeds with tobacco- -juice. "My ole woman's powerful sick an' ailin', an' I need some money -awfully t' git her some quinine. Yarbs don't seem t' do her no sort o' -good. She must have some Yankee quinine, and she's nigh dead fer some -Yankee coffee. This war's mouty hard on po' people. Hit's jest killin' -'em by inches, by takin' away their coffee an' quinine. I'm a Union man, -an' allers have bin." - -"You haint got any whisky in that wagon, have you?" asked Si. - -"O, Lord, no! nary mite. You don't think I'd try t' take whisky into -camp, do you? I'm not sich a bad man as that. Besides, whar'd I git -whisky? The war's broke up all the 'stilleries in the country. What the -Confedrits didn't burn yo'uns did. I've bin sufferin' for months fur a -dram o' whisky, an' as fur my ole woman, she's nearly died. That's the -reason the yarbs don't do her no good. She can't get no whisky to soak -'em in." - -"He's entirely too talkative about the wickedness o' bringin' whisky -into camp," whispered Shorty. "He's bin there before. He's an old hand -at the business." - -"Sure you've got no whisky?" said Si. - -"Sartin, gentlemen; sarch my wagon, if you don't take my word. I only -wish I knowed whar thar wuz some whisky. I'd walk 20 miles in the rain -t' git one little flask fur my ole woman and myself. I tell you, thar -haint a drap t' be found in the hull Duck River Valley. 'Stilleries all -burnt, I tell you." And in the earnestness of his protestations he -sprayed his team,171 himself, and the neighboring weeds with liquid -tobacco. - -Si stepped back and carefully searched the wagon, opening the meal sack, -uncorking the buttermilk jug, and turning over the dried apples, -pumpkins and tobacco. There certainly was no whisky there. - -Shorty stood leaning on his musket and looking at the man. He was pretty -sure that the fellow had had previous experience in running whisky into -camp, and was up to the tricks of the trade. Instead of a saddle the man -had under him an old calico quilt, whose original gaudy colors were -sadly dimmed by the sun, rain, and dirt. Shorty stepped forward and -lifted one corner. His suspicions were right. It had an under pocket, in -which was a flat, half-pint flask with a cob stopper, and filled with -apple-jack so new that it was as colorless as water. - -"I wuz jest bringin' that 'ere in fur you, Capting," said the -Tennesseean, with a profound wink and an unabashed countenance. "Stick -hit in your pocket, quick. None o' the rest 's seed you." - -Shorty flung the bottle down and ordered the man off his horse. The -quilt was examined. It contained a half-dozen more flasks, each holding -a "half-pint of throat-scorch and at least two fights," as Shorty -expressed it. A clumsy leather contrivance lay on the hames of the mule. -Flasks were found underneath this, and the man himself was searched. -More flasks were pulled out from the tail pockets of his ragged coat; -from his breast; from the crown of his ragged hat. - -"Well," said Shorty, as he got through, "you're a regler grogshop on -wheels. All you need is a lot172 o' loafers talkin' politics, a few -picturs o' racin' hosses and some customers buried in the village -graveyard to be a first-class bar-room. Turn around and git back to that -ole woman o' your'n, or we'll make you sicker'n she is." - -Si and Shorty marched around with the second relief, and then sat down -to talk over the events of the morning. - -"I guess we've purty well settled the whisky business for to-day, at -least," said Si. "The Colonel can't complain of us. I don't think we'll -have any more trouble. Seems to me that there can't be no more whisky in -this part o' Tennessee, from the quantity we've destroyed." - -"Don't be too dinged sure o' that," said Shorty. "Whisky seems to brew -as naturally in this country as the rosin to run out o' the pine trees. -I never saw sich a country fur likker. They have more stills in -Tennessee than blacksmith shops, and they work stiddier." - -Si looked down the road and saw returning a wagon which had been sent -out in the morning for forage. It was well loaded, and the guards who -were marching behind had a few chickens and other supplies that they had -gathered up. - -"Boys seem to be purty fresh, after their tramp," said he, with the -first thought of a soldier looking at marching men. "They've all got -their guns at carry arms. I noticed that as they came over the hill." - -"Yes," answered Shorty, after a glance, "and they're holdin' 'em up very -stiff an' straight. That gives mo an idee. Lo's go over there an' take a -look at 'em."173 - -Shorty had sniffed at a trick that he had more than once played in -getting the forbidden beverage past the lynx-eyed sentry. - -"Don't you find it hard work to march at routstep with your guns at a -carry?" he said insinuatingly. "No need o' doin' that except on parade -or drill. Right-shoulder-shift or arms-at-will is the thing when you're -on the road." - -"H-s-sh," said the leading file, with a profound wink and a sidelong -glance at Si. "Keep quiet, Shorty," he added in a stage whisper. "We'll -give you some. It's all right. We'll whack up fair." - -"No, it ain't all right," said Shorty, with properly offended official -dignity. "Don't you dare offer to bribe me, Buck Harper, when I'm on -duty. Hand me that gun this minute." - -Harper shamefacedly handed over the musket, still holding it carefully -upright. Shorty at once reversed it and a stream of whisky ran out upon -the thirsty soil. - -Si grasped the situation, and disarmed the others with like result. - -"I ought to put every one o' you in' the guardhouse for this. It's lucky -that the Officer of the Guard wasn't here. He'd have done it. There he -comes now. Skip out after the wagon, quick, before he gits on to you." - -"What next?" sighed Si. "Is the whole world bent on bringin' whisky into -this camp? Haint they got none for the others?" - -"Sergeant of the Guard, Post No. 1," rang out upon the hot air. Si -walked over again to the entrance, and saw seeking admission a tall, -bony174 woman, wearing a dirty and limp sunbonnet and smoking a corn-cob -pipe. She was mounted on a slab-sided horse, with ribs like a washboard, -and carried a basket on her arm covered with a coarse cloth none too -clean. - -"Looks as if she'd bin picked before she was ripe and got awfully warped -in the dryin'. All the same she's loaded with whisky," commented Shorty -as the woman descended from her saddle and approached the sentry with an -air of resolute demand. - -"You haint got no right to stop me, young feller," she said. "I come in -hyar every day an' bring pies. Your Jinerul said I could, an' he wanted -me to. His men want my pies, an' they do 'em good. Hit's homecookin', -an' takes the taste o' the nasty camp vittles out o' their mouths, an' -makes 'em healthy. You jest raise yer gun, an' let me go right in, or -I'll tell yer Jinerul, an' he'll make it warm fur yer. I've got a pass -from him." - -"Let me see your pass," said Si, stepping forward. The woman unhooked -her linsey dress, fumbled around in the recesses, and finally produced a -soiled and crumpled paper, which, when straightened out, read: - -"Mrs. Sarah Bolster has permission to pass in and out of the camp of the -200th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. - -"By order of Col. Quackenbush. - -"D. L. Blakemore, Lieut. & Adj't." - -"What've you got in that basket?" asked Si, still hesitating. - -"Pies," she answered confidently. "The best pies you ever seed. Some of -'em pumpkin; but the rest175 of 'em dried apple, with lots o' 'lasses in -fur sweetenin'. Your mother never baked better pies 'n 'em." - -"To my mind," muttered Shorty, as he stepped forward to investigate the -basket, "she's the kind o' a woman I'd like to have bake pies for a gang -o' State's prison birds that I wanted to kill off without the trouble o' -hangin'. Say, ma'am, are your pies pegged or sewed? What'd you use for -shortenen'—injy rubber or Aunt Jemimy's plaster?" he continued as he -turned back the cloth and surveyed the well-known specimens of mountain -baking which were as harmful to Uncle Sam's boys as the bullets of their -enemies. - -"Young feller, none o' yer sass," she said severely. "Them's better pies -than ye're used ter. Folks that's never had nothin' air allers the most -partickeler, an' turnin' up thar noses at rayly good things. Don't fool -with me no more, but let me go on inter camp, fur the soljers air -expectin' me." - -"Sure you haint got no whisky down in the bottom o' that basket?" said -Si, pushing the pies about a little, to get a better look. - -The indignation of the woman at this insinuation was stunning. She took -her pipe out of her mouth to better express her contempt for men who -would insult a Southern lady by such a hint—one, too, that had been of -so much benefit to the soldiers by toiling over the hot oven to prepare -for them food more acceptable than the coarse rations their stingy -Government furnished them. She had never been so insulted in her life, -and she would bring down on them dire punishment from the Colonel. - -Several experiences with the tongue-lashings of176 Southern viragoes had -made Si and Shorty less impressed by them than they had been earlier in -their service. Still, they had the healthy young man's awe of anything -that wore skirts, and the tirade produced its effect, but not strong -enough to eradicate the belief that she was a whisky-bringer. While she -stormed Si kept his eyes fixed upon the scant linsey dress which draped -her tall form. Presently he said to Shorty: - -"What do you think? Shall we let her go in?" Shorty whispered back with -great deliberation: "Si, what I know about the female form don't amount -to shucks. Least of all the Tennessee female form. But I've been lookin' -that 'ere woman over carefully while she's been jawin', an' while she's -naturally covered with knots and knobs in places where it seems to me -that women generally don't have 'em, I can't help believin' that she's -got some knots and knobs that naturally don't belong to her. In other -words, she's got a whole lot o' flasks of whisky under her skirts." - -"Jest what I've been suspicionin'," said Si. "I've heard that that's the -way lots o' whisky is brung into camp. Shorty, as Corporal o' the Guard, -it's your duty to search her." - -"What!" yelled Shorty, horror-struck at the immodest thought. "Si Klegg, -are you gone plum crazy?" - -"Shorty," said Si firmly, "it's got to be done. She's got a pass, and -the right to go into camp. We're both o' the opinion that she's carryin' -in whisky. If she was a man there'd be no doubt that she'd have to be -searched. I don't understand that the law177 knows any difference in -persons. No matter what you may think about it, it is your duty, as -Corporal o' the Guard, to make the search." - -"No, sir-ree," insisted Shorty. "You're Sergeant o' the Guard, and it's -your dooty to make all searches." - -"Shorty," expostulated Si, "I'm much younger and modester'n you are, an' -haint seen nearly so much o' the world. You ought to do this. Besides, -you're under my orders, as Actin' Corporal. I order you to make the -search." - -"Si Klegg," said Shorty firmly, "I'll see you and all the Corporals and -Sergeants betwixt here and Washington in the middle o' next week before -I'll do it. You may buck-and-gag me, and tie me up by the thumbs, and -then I won't. I resign my position as Corporal right here, and'll take -by gun and go on post." - -"What in the world are we goin' to do?" said Si desperately. "If we let -her in, she'll fill the camp full o' whisky, and she'll have to go in, -unless we kin show some reason for keepin' her out. Hold on; I've got an -idee." - -He went up to the woman and said: - -"You say you want to go into camp to sell your pies?" - -"Yes, sir, an' I want to go in right off—no more foolin' around," she -answered tartly. - -"How many pies've you got?" - -She went through a laborious counting, and finally announced: "Eight -altogether." - -"How much are they worth?" - -"Fifty cents apiece."178 - -"Very good," announced Si taking some money from his pocket. "That comes -to $4. I'll take the lot and treat the boys. Here's your money. Now -you've got no more business in camp, jest turn around and mosey for -home. You've made a good day's business, and ought to be satisfied." - -The woman scowled with disappointment. But she wisely concluded that she -h'd better be content with the compromise, remounted her horse and -disappeared down the road. - -"That was a sneak out of a difficulty," Si confessed to Shorty; "but you -were as big a coward as I was." - -"No, I wasn't," insisted Shorty, still watchful. "You'd no right to -order me do something that you was afraid to do yourself. That's no kind -o' officering." - -179 - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. THE JEW SPY WRITES SHORTY HAS AN ADVENTURE WITH A LONE, -LORN WIDDER LADY." - -"I WONDER what has become of our Jew spy, Shorty?" said Si, as he and -Shorty sat on the bank of Duck River and watched the rebel pickets -lounging under the beeches on the other side. "We hain't heard nothin' -of him for more'n a month now." - -"He's probably hung," answered Shorty. "He was entirely too smart to -live long. A man can't go on always pokin' his finger into a -rattlesnake's jaw without gittin' it nipped sooner or later." - -"I'm looking fur a man called Si Klegg," they heard behind them. Looking -around they saw the tall, gaunt woman whom they had turned back from -entering the camp a few days before, under the belief that she was -trying to smuggle in whisky. - -"What in the world can she want o' me?" thought Si; but he answered: - -"That's my name. What'll you have?" - -A flash of recognition filled at once her faded blue eyes. Without -taking her pipe from between her yellow, snaggly teeth she delivered a -volley of tobacco-juice at an unoffending morning-glory, and snapped -out: - -"O, y'r him, air ye? Y'r the dratted measly180 sapsucker that bounced me -'bout takin' likker inter camp. What bizniss wuz hit o' your'n whether I -tuk likker in or not? Jest wanted t' be smart, didn't ye? Jest wanted t' -interfere with a lone, lorn widder lady makin' a honest livin' for -herself and 10 children. My ole man ketched the black ager layin' out in -the brush to dodge the conscripters. It went plumb to his heart an' -killed him. He wa'n't no great loss, nohow, fur he'd eat more in a week -than he'd kill, ketch, or raise in a year. When his light went out I'd -only one less mouth to feed, and got rid o' his jawin' an' cussin' all -the time. But that hain't nothin' t' do with you. You 's jest puttin' on -a lettle authority kase ye could. But all men air alike that-a-way. -Elect a man Constable, an' he wants t' put on more airs than the Guv- -nor; marry him, an' he makes ye his slave." - -"I should think it'd be a bold man that'd try to make you his slave. -Madam," Si ventured. - -"Y' she'd think," she retorted, with her arms akimbo. "Who axed y' t' -think, young feller? What d' y' do hit with. Why d' y' strain y'rself -doin' somethin' y' ain't used t'?" - -It did Shorty so much good to see Si squelched, that he chuckled aloud -and called out: - -"Give it to him, old Snuff-Dipper. He's from the Wabash, an' hain't no -friends. He's bin itchin' a long time for jest such a skinnin' as you're -givin' him." - -"Who air y' callin' Snuff-Dipper?" she retorted, turning angrily on -Shorty. "What've ye got t' say agin snuff-dippin', anyway, y' terbacker- -chawin', likker-guzzlin', wall-oyed, splay-footed, knock-kneed181 oaf? -What air y' greasy hirelings a-comin' down heah fo', t' sass and slander -Southern ladies, who air yo' superiors?" - -"Give it to him, old Corncob Pipe," yelled Si "He needs lambastin' -worse'n any man in the regiment. But what did you want to see me for?" - -"I wanted to see yo' bekase I got a letter to yo' from a friend o' mine, -who said yo' wuz gentlemen, an' rayly not Yankees at all. He said that -yo' wuz forced into the army agin yo' will." - -"Gracious, what a liar that man must be," murmured Shorty to himself. - -"An' yo' rayly had no heart to fight for the nigger, an' that yo'd treat -me like a sister." - -"A sister," Shorty exploded internally. "Think of a feller's havin' a -sister like that. Why, I wouldn't throw her in a soap-grease barrel." - -"Who was this friend. Madam?" said Si, "and where is his letter?" - -"I don't know whether to give it to yo' or not," said she. "Y're not the -men at all that he ascribed to me. He said yo' wuz very good-lookin', -perlite gentlemen, who couldn't do too much for a lady." - -"Sorry we're not as handsome as you expected," said Si; "but mebbe -that's because we're in fatigue uniforms. You ought to see my partner -there when he's fixed up for parade. He's purtier'n a red wagon then. -Let me see the letter. I can tell then whether we're the men or not." - -"Kin yo' read?" she asked suspiciously. - -"O, yes," answered Si laughingly at the thought almost universal in the -South that reading and writing were—like the Gift of Tongues—a -special182 dispensation to a few favored individuals only. "I can read -and do lots o' things that common people can't. I'm seventh son of a -seventh son, born with a caul on my head at the time o' the full moon. -Let me see the letter." - -She was not more than half convinced, but unhooked her dress and took a -note from her bosom, which she stuck out toward Si, holding tightly on -to one end in the meanwhile. Si read, in Levi Rosenbaum's flourishing, -ornate handwriting: - -"Corporal Josiah Klegg, Co. Q, 200th Indiana Volunteers, in Camp on Duck -River." - -"That means me," said Si, taking hold of the end of the envelope. "There -ain't but one 200th Injianny Volunteers; there's no other Co. Q, and I'm -the only Josiah Klegg." - -The woman still held on to the other end of the letter. - -"It comes," continued Si, "from a man a little under medium size, with -black hair and eyes, dresses well, talks fast, and speaks a Dutch -brogue." - -"That's him," said the woman, relinquishing the letter, and taking a -seat under the shade of a young cucumber tree, where she proceeded to -fill her pipe, while awaiting the reading of the missive. - -Si stepped off a little ways, and Shorty looked over his shoulder as he -opened the letter and read: - -"Dear Boys: This will be handed you, if it reaches you at all, by Mrs. -Bolster, who has more about her than you think."183 - -"I don't know about that," muttered Shorty; "the last time I had the -pleasure o' meetin' the lady she had 'steen dozen bottles o' head-bust -about her." - -"She's a Confederate, as far as she goes." - -Si continued reading, - -"which is not very far. She don't go but a little ways. A jay-bird that -did not have any more brains would not build much of a nest. But she is -very useful to me, and I want you to get in with her. As soon as you -read this I want Si to give her that pair of horn combs I gave him. Do -it at once. Sincerely your friend, - -"Levi Rosenbaum." - -Si knit his brows in perplexity and wonderment over this strange -message. He looked at Shorty, but Shorty's face was as blank of -explanation as his own. He fumbled around in his blouse pocket, drew -forth the combs, and handed them to the woman. Her dull face lighted up -visibly. She examined the combs carefully, as if fitting them to a -description, and, reaching in her bosom, pulled out another letter and -handed it to Si. - -When this was opened Si read: - -"Dear Boys: Now you will understand the comb business. I wanted to make -sure that my letter reached the right men, and the combs were the only -things I could think of at the moment. Mrs. B. will prize them, though -she will never think of using them, either on herself or one of her -shock-headed brats. I want you to play it on her as far as your -consciences will allow. Pretend that you are awful sick of this -Abolition war, and tired fighting for the nigger, and all that stuff. -Make her the happiest184 woman in Tennessee by giving her all the coffee -you can spare. That will fetch her quicker and surer than anything else. -Like most Southern women, she is a coffee-drinker first and a rebel -afterward, and if some preacher would tell her that heaven is a place -where she will get all the Yankee coffee she can drink, she would go to -church regularly for the rest of her life. Tell her a lot of news—as -much of it true as you can and think best; as much of it otherwise as -you can invent. Follow her cautiously when she leaves camp. Don't let -her see you do so. You will find that she will lead you to a nest of -spies, and the place where all the whisky is furnished to sell in camp. -I write you thus freely because I am certain that this will get in your -hands. I know that your regiment is out here, because I have been -watching it for a week, with reference to its being attacked. It won't -be for at least awhile, for there's another hen on. But make up to the -old lady as much as your consciences and stomachs will allow you. It -will be for the best interests of the service. - -"Sincerely your friend, Levi Rosenbaum." - -"I wonder what game Levi is up to?" Si said, as he stood with the letter -in his hand and looked at the woman. "I'll give her all the coffee I can -and be very civil to her, but that's as far as I'll go. The old rebel -cat. I'll not lie to her for 40 Levi Rosenbaums." - -"Well, I will," said Shorty. "You fix her up with the coffee, and leave -the rest to me. I always had a fancy for queer animals, and run off from -home once to travel with a menagerie. I'd like to take her up185 North -and start a side-show with her. 'The Queen o' the Raccoon Mountains,' or -the 'Champion Snuff-Dipper o' the Sequatchie Valley.' How'd that do for -a sign?" - -"Well, go ahead," said Si. "But expect no help from me." - -"Mr. Klegg, when I want your help in courtin' a lady I'll let you know," -said Shorty with dignity. Si went back to the tent to see about getting -the coffee, and Shorty approached Mrs. Bolster with an engaging -expression on his countenance. She was knocking the ashes out of her -pipe. - -"Let me fill your pipe up again. Madam, with something very choice," -said he, pulling out a plug of bright natural leaf. "Here's some -terbacker the like o' which you never see in all your born days. It was -raised from seed stole from the private stock of the High-muk-a-muk o' -Turkey, brung acrost the ocean in a silver terbacker box for the use o' -President Buchanan, and planted in the new o' the moon on a piece o' -ground that never before had raised nothin' but roses and sweet- -williams. My oldest brother, who is a Senator from Oshkosh, got just one -plug of it, which he divided with me." - -"O, my! is that true?" she gurgled. - -"It's as true as that you are a remarkably fine lookin' woman," he said -with unblushing countenance, as he began whittling off some of the -tobacco to fill her pipe. "I was struck by your appearance as soon as I -saw you. I always was very fond of the Southern ladies." - -"Sakes alive, air y'?" she asked; "then what air yo'uns down here -foutin' we'uns fur?"186 - -"That's a long story, m'm," answered Shorty. "It was a trick o' the -Abolition politicians that got us into it. I'm awful sick o' the war -(that we hain't gone ahead and knocked the heads offen this whole crowd -instead o' layin' 'round here in camp for months)" he added as a mental -reservation, "and wisht I was out of it (after we've hung Jeff Davis on -a sour-apple tree). Then I might settle down here and marry some nice -woman. You're a widder, I believe you said." - -"Yes, I'm a widder," she answered, taking her pipe from her mouth and -giving him what she intended for a languishing smile, but which Shorty -afterward said reminded him of a sun-crack in a mud fence. "Yes, I'm a -widder. Bin so for gwine on six months. Sakes alive, but ye do talk -nice. You air the best-lookin' Yankee I've ever seed." "Nothin' -painfully bashful about her," thought Shorty. "But I must be careful not -to let her get me near a Justice of the Peace. She'd marry me before I -could ketch my breath. Madam," he continued aloud. - -"Yo' may call me Sophrony," she said, with another cavernous smile. - -"Well, Sophrony, let me present you with half o' this plug o' famous -terbacker." He drew his jackknife and sliced the plug in two. "Take it, -with my warmest respects. Here comes my partner with some coffee I've -sent him for, and which I want you to have. It is not as much as I'd -like to give you, but it's all that I have. Some other day you shall -have much more." - -"Law's sakes." she bubbled, as the fragrant odor187 of the coffee -reached her nose, and she hefted the package. "Yo' air jest the nicest -man I ever did see in all my born days. I didn't s'pose thar wuz so nice -a man, or sich a good-lookin' one, in the hull Yankee army, or in the -oonfederit either, fur that matter. But, then, yo' ain't no real blue- -bellied Yankee." - -"No, indeed, Sophrony. I never saw New England in all my life, nor did -any o' my people. They wuz from Virginny (about 500 miles, as near as I -kin calculate)" he added to himself as a mental poultice. - -"Say, Mister, why don't you leave the Yankee army?" - -"Can't," said Shorty, despairingly. "If I tried to git back home the -Provos 'll ketch me. If I go the other way the rebel's ketch me. I'm -betwixt the devil and the deep sea." - -She sat and smoked for several minutes in semblance of deep thought, and -spat with careful aim at one after another of the prominent weeds -around. Then she said: - -"If yo' want t' splice with me, I kin take keer o' yo'. I've helped run -off several o' the boys who wuz sick o' this Abolition war. Thar's two -o' them now with Bill Phillips's gang makin' it hot for the Yankee -trains and camps. They're makin' more'n they ever did soljerin', an' -havin' a much better time, for they take whatever they want, no matter -who it belongs to. D' yo' know Groundhog, a teamster? He's in cahoots -with us." - -"Oh!" said Shorty to himself. "Here's another lay altogether. Guess it's -my duty to work it for all that it's worth."188 - -"Is it a bargain?" she said suddenly, stretching out her long, skinny -hand. - -"Sophrony," said Shorty, taking her hand, "this is so sudden. I never -thought o' marryin'—at least till this cruel war is over. I don't know -what kind of a husband I'd make. I don't know whether I could fill the -place o' your late husband!" - -"Yo're not gwine t' sneak out," she said, with a fierce flash in her -gray eyes. "If yo' do I'll have yo' pizened." - -"Now, who's talkin' about backin' out?" said Shorty in a fever of -placation, for he was afraid that some of the other boys would overhear -the conversation. "Don't talk so loud. Come, let's walk on toward your -home. We kin talk on the way." - -The proposition appeared reasonable. She took the bridle of her horse in -her arm, and together they walked out through the guard-line. The -sentries gave Shorty a deep, knowing wink as he passed. He went the more -willingly, as he was anxious to find out more about the woman, and the -operations of the gang with which she was connected. She had already -said enough to explain several mysterious things of recent occurrence. -Night came down and as her ungainliness was not thrust upon him as it -was in the broad glare of day, he felt less difficulty in professing a -deep attachment for her. He even took her hand. On her part she grew -more open and communicative at every step, and Shorty had no difficulty -in understanding that there was gathered around her a gang that was -practicing about everything detrimental to the army. They were by turns -spies, robbers, murderers, whisky189 smugglers, horse-thieves, and -anything else that promised a benefit to themselves. Ostensibly they -were rebels, but this did not prevent their preying upon the rebels when -occasion offered. Some were deserters from the rebel army, some were -evading the conscript laws, two or three were deserters from our army. - -Shorty and the woman had reached a point nearly a half-mile outside of -the guard-line when he stopped and said: - -"I can't go no farther now. I must go back." "Why must yo' go back?" she -demanded, with a190 sudden angry suspicion. "I thought yo' wuz gwine -right along with me." - -"Why, no. I never thought o' that. I must go back and get my things -before I go with you," said Shorty, as the readiest way of putting her -off. - -"Plague take y'r things," she said. "Let 'em go. Yo' kin git plenty more -jest as good from the next Yankee camp. Yo' slip back some night with -the boys an' git yo'r own things, if y'r so dratted stuck on 'em. Come -along now." - -She took hold of his wrist with a grip like iron. Shorty had no idea -that a woman could have such strength. - -"I want to go back and git my partner," said Shorty. "Me and him 've bin -together all the time we've bin in the army. He'll go along with me, I'm -sure. Me and him thinks alike on everything, and what one starts the -other jines in. I want to go back an' git him." - -"I don't like that partner o' your'n. I don't want him. I'll be a better -partner t' yo' than ever he was. Yo' mustn't think more o' him than yo' -do o' me." - -"Look here, Sophrony," said Shorty desperately, "I cannot an' will not -go with you to-night. I'm expectin' important letters from home to- -morrow, and I must go back an' git 'em. I've a thousand things to do -before I go away. Have some sense. This thing's bin sprung on me so -suddenly that it ketches me unawares." - -With the quickness of a flash she whipped out a long knife from -somewhere, and raised it, and then hesitated a second. - -She Whipped out a Long Knife. 189 - -"I believe yo're foolin' me, and if I wuz shore I'd191 stick yo'. But -I'm gwine t' give yo' a chance. Yo' kin go back now, an' I'll come for -yo' ter-morrer. If you go back on me hit'll be a mouty sorry day for -yo'. Mind that now." - -Shorty gallantly helped her mount, and then hurried back to camp. - - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. SHORTY HAS AN ADVENTURE WITH SI HE GOES OUT TO VISIT MRS. -BOLSTER. - -SHORTY sauntered thoughtfully back to the tent, and on the way decided -to tell Si the whole occurrence, not even omitting the deceit practiced. - -He had to admit to himself that he was unaccountably shaken up by the -affair. - -Si was so deeply interested in the revelations that he forgot to blame -Shorty's double-dealing. - -"Never had my nerve so strained before," Shorty frankly admitted. "At -their best, women are curiouser than transmogrified hullaloos, and when -a real cute one sets out to hornswoggle a man he might as well lay down -and give right up, for he hain't no earthly show. She gits away with him -every time, and one to spare. That there woman's got the devil in her -bigger'n a sheep, and she come nigher makin' putty o' your Uncle Ephraim -than I ever dreamed of before. It makes me shivery to think about it." - -"I don't care if she's more devils in her than the Gadarene swine, she -must be stopped at once," said Si, his patriotic zeal flaming up. "She's -doin' more mischief than a whole regiment o' rebels, and must be busted -immediately. We've got to stop193 her." - -"But just how are we goin' to stop her?" Shorty asked. There was a weak -unreadiness in Shorty's tones that made Si look at him in surprise. -Never before, in any emergency, had there been the slightest shade of -such a thing in his bold, self-reliant partner's voice. - -"I'd rather tackle any two men there are in the Southern Confederacy -than that woman," said Shorty. "I believe she put a spell on me." - -"Le's go up and talk to Capt. McGillicuddy about it," said Si. -Ordinarily, this was the last thing that either of them would have -thought of doing. Their usual disposition was to go ahead and settle the -problem before them in their own way, and report about it afterward. But -Shorty was clearly demoralized. - -Capt. McGillicuddy listened very gravely to their story. - -"Evidently that old hen has a nest of bad, dangerous men, which has to -be broken up," he said. "We can get the whole raft if we go about it in -the right way, but we've got to be mighty smart in dealing with them, or -they'll fly the coop, and leave the laugh on us. You say she's coming -back to-morrow?" - -"Yes," said Shorty, with a perceptible shiver. - -"Well, I want you to fall right in with all her plans—both of you. -Pretend to be anxious to desert, or anything else that she may propose. -Go back home with her. I shall watch you carefully, but without seeming -to, and follow you with a squad big enough to take care of anything that -may be out there. Go back to your tent now, and think it194 all over, -and arrange some signal to let me know when you want me to jump the -outfit." - -The boys went back to their tent, and spent an hour in anxious -consideration of their plans. Si saw the opportunity to render a great -service, and was eager to perform it, but he firmly refused to tell any -lies to the woman or those around her. He would not say that he was -tired of the service and wanted to desert; he would not pretend liking -for the Southern Confederacy or the rebels, nor hatred to his own -people. He would do nothing but go along, share all the dangers with -Shorty, and be ready at the moment to co-operate in breaking up the -gang. - -"Some folks's so durned straight that they lean over backwards," said -Shorty impatiently. "What in thunder does it amount to what you tell -these onery gallinippers? They'll lie to you as fast as a hoss kin trot. -There's no devilment they won't do, and there kin be nothin' wrong in -anything you kin do and say to them." - -"Everybody settles some things for himself," said the unchangeable Si. -"I believe them folks are as bad as they kin be made. I believe every -one o' 'em ought to be killed, and if it wuz orders to kill 'em I'd kill -without turnin' a hair. But I jest simply won't lie to nobody, I don't -care who he is. I'll stand by you until the last drop; you kin tell 'em -what you please, but I won't tell 'em nothin', except that they're a -pizen gang, and ought t've bin roastin' in brimstone long ago." - -"But," expostulated Shorty, "if you only go along with me you're actin' -a lie. If you go out o' camp with mo you'll pretend to bo desertin' and -j'inin' in195 with 'em. Seems to me that's jest as bad as tellin' a lie -straight out." - -"Well," said the immovable Si, "I draw the line there. I'll go along -with you, and they kin think what they like. But if I say anything to -'em, they'll git it mighty straight." - -"Well, I don't know but, after all, we kin better arrange it that way," -said Shorty, after he had thought it over in silence for some time. "I'm -sure that if you'd talk you'd give us dead away. That clumsy basswood -tongue o' your'n hain't any suppleness, and you'd be sure to blurt out -something that'd jest ruin us. An idee occurs to me. You jest go along, -look sour and say nothin'. I'll tell 'em you ketched cold the other -night and lost your speech. It'll give me a turn o' extra dooty talkin' -for two, but I guess I kin do it." - -"All right," agreed Si. "Let it go that way." - -"Now, look here, Si," said Shorty, in a low, mysterious tone, "I'm goin' -to tell you somethin' that I hadn't intended to. I'm scared to death -lest that old hag'll git the drop on me some way and marry me right out -of hand. I tell you, she jest frightens the life out o' me. That worries -me more'n all the rest put together. I expect I ought t 'v' told you so -at the very first." - -"Nonsense," said Si contemptuously. "The idee o' you're being afeared o' -such a thing." - -"It's all very well for you to snort and laugh, Si Klegg," persisted -Shorty. "You don't know her. I sneered at her, too, at first, but when I -was left alone with her she seemed to mesmerize me. I found myself -talkin' about marryin' her before I knowed196 it, and the next thing I -was on the p'int o' actually marryin' her. I believe that if she'd got -me to walk a half-mile further with her she'd a run me up agin a Justice -o' the Peace and married me in spite of all that I could do. I'd much -ruther have my head blowed off than married to that old catamount. - -"Bah, you can't marry folks unless both are willin'," insisted Si. "A -man can't have a marriage rung in on him willy-nilly." - -"There's just where you're shootin' off your mouth without any sense. -You don't know what you're talkin' about. Men are lassoed every day and -married to women that they'd run away from like a dog from a porcupine, -if they could. You jest look around among the married folks you know, -and see how many there are that wouldn't have married one another if -they'd bin in their senses." - -"Well, I don't think o' many," said Si, whose remembrances were that the -people in Posey County seemed generally well-mated. - -"Well, there mayn't be many, but there's some, and I don't propose to be -one of 'em. There's some spell or witchcraft about it. I've read in -books about things that gave a woman power to marry any man she wanted -to, and he couldn't help himself. That woman's got something o' that -kind, and she's set her eye on me. I'm goin' to meet her, and I want to -help break up her gang, but I'd a great deal rather tackle old Bragg and -his entire army. I want you to stay right by me every minnit, and keep -your eye on me when she's near me."197 - -"All right," said Si sleepily, as he crawled into bed. - -The next morning, as they were discussing the question of signals, they -happened to pass the Sutler's, and Si caught a glimpse of packages of -firecrackers, which the regimental purveyor had, for some inscrutable -reason, thought he might sell. An idea occurred to Si, and he bought a -couple of packages, and stowed them away in his blouse pocket and told -the Captain that their firing would be the signal, unless a musket-shot -should come first. - -It was yet early in the forenoon as they walked on the less-frequented -side of the camp. Shorty gave a start, and gasped: - -"Jewhilikins, there she is already." - -Si looked, and saw Mrs. Bolster striding toward them. Shorty hung back -instinctively for an instant, and then braced up and bade her good -morning. - -She grunted an acknowledgment, and said rather imperiously: - -"Y're a-gwine, air yo'?" - -"Certainly," answered Shorty. - -"And yo'?" she inquired, looking at Si. - -"He's a-goin', too," answered Shorty. "Mustn't expect him to talk. He's -short on tongue this mornin'. Ketched a bad cold night before last. -Settled on his word-mill. Unjinted his clapper. Can't speak a word. -Doctor says it will last several days. Not a great affliction. Couldn't -'ve lost anything o' less account." - -"Must've bin an orful cold," said she, taking her pipe from her mouth -and eyeing Si suspiciously.198 - -"Never knowed a cold to shut off any one's gab afore. Seems t' me that -hit makes people talk more. But these Yankees air different. Whar air -yer things? Did yo' bring plenty o' coffee?' - -"We've got 'em hid down here in the brush," said Shorty. "We'll git 'em -when we're ready to start." - -"We're ready now," she answered. "Come along." - -"But we hain't no passes," objected Shorty. "We must go to the Captain -and git passes." - -"Yo' won't need no passes," she said impatiently. "Foller me." - -Shorty had expected to make the pretext about the passes serve for -informing Capt. McGillicuddy of the presence of the woman in the camp. -He looked quickly around and saw the Captain sauntering carelessly at a -little distance, so that any notification was unnecessary. He turned and -followed Mrs. Bolster's long strides, with Si bringing up the rear. - -They went to the clump of brush where they had hidden their haversacks -and guns. Mrs. Bolster eagerly examined the precious package of coffee. - -"I'll take keer o' this myself," she said, stowing it away about her -lanky person. "I can't afford to take no resks as to hit." - -Si and Shorty had thought themselves very familiar with the campground, -but they were astonished to find themselves led outside the line without -passing under the eye of a single guard. Si looked at Shorty in -amazement, and Shorty remarked: - -"Well, I'll be durned." - -The woman noticed and understood. "Yo' Yanks,"199 she said scornfully, -"think yourselves moughty smart with all your book-larnin', and yo'uns -put on heaps o' airs over po' folks what hain't no eddication; but what -you don't know about Tennessee woods would make a bigger book than ever -was printed." - -"I believe you," said Shorty fervently. His superstition in regard to -her was rapidly augmenting to that point where he believed her capable -of anything. He was alarmed a'bout Capt. McGillicuddy's being able to -follow their mysterious movements. But they soon came to the road, and -looking back from the top of a hill, Shorty's heart lightened as he saw -a squad moving out which he was confident was led by Capt. McGillicuddy. - -But little had been said so far. At a turn of the road they came upon a -gray-bearded man, wearing a battered silk hat and spectacles, whom Mrs. -Bolster greeted as "'Squire." - -The word seemed to send all the blood from Shorty's face, and he looked -appealingly to Si as if the crisis had come. - -The newcomer looked them over sharply and inquired: - -"Who are these men, Mrs. Bolster?" - -"They'uns 's all right. They'uns 's had enough o' Abolition doin's, and -hev come over whar they'uns allers rayly belonged. This one is a -partickler friend o' mine," and she leered at Shorty in a way that made -his blood run cold. - -"Hain't yo' time t' stop a minute, 'Squire?" she asked appealingly, as -the newcomer turned his horse's head to renew his journey.200 - -"Not now; not now," answered the 'Squire, digging his heels into his -steed's side. "I want to talk t' yo' and these 'ere men 'bout what's -gwine on in the Lincoln camps, but I must hurry on now to meet Capt. -Solomon at the Winding Blades. I'll come over to your house this -evening," he called back. - -"Don't fail, 'Squire," she answered, "fur I've got a little job for yo', -an' I want hit partickerly done this very evenin'. Hit can't wait." - -"I'll be there without fail," he assured her. - -"Capt. Solomon's the man what sent the letter to you," she explained, -which somewhat raised Shorty's depressed heart, for he began to have -hopes that Rosenbaum might rescue him if Capt. McGillicuddy should be -behind time. - -As they jogged onward farther from camp Mrs. Bolster's saturnine -earnestness began to be succeeded by what were intended to be -demonstrations of playful affection for her future husband, whom she now -began to regard as securely hers. She would draw Shorty into the path a -little ahead of Si, and walk alongside of him, pinching his arm and -jabbering incoherent words which were meant for terms of endearment. -When the narrowness of the road made them walk in single file she would -come up from time to time alongside with cuffs intended for playful -love-taps. - -At each of these Shorty would cast such a look of wretchedness at Si -that the latter had difficulty in preserving his steadfast silence and -rigidity of countenance. - -But the woman's chief affection seemed to be called forth by the package -of coffee. She would201 stop in the midst of any demonstration to pull -out the bag containing the fragrant berry, and lovingly inhale its odor. - -It was long past noon when she announced: "Thar's my house right ahead." -She followed this up with a ringing whoopee, which made the tumbledown -cabin suddenly swarm with animation. A legion of loud-mouthed dogs -charged down toward the road. Children of various ages, but of no -variety in their rags and unkempt wildness, followed the dogs, or -perched upon the fence-corners and stumps, and three or four shambling, -evil-faced mountaineers lunged forward, guns in hand, with eyes fiercer -than the dogs, as they looked over the two armed soldiers. - -"They'uns is all right, boys," exclaimed the woman. "They'uns 's plum -sick o' doggin' hit for Abe Lincoln an' quit." - -"Let 'em gin up thar guns, then," said the foremost man, who had but one -eye, reaching for Shorty's musket. "I'll take this one. I've been -longin' for a good Yankee gun for a plum month to reach them Yankee -pickets on Duck River." - -Though Shorty and Si had schooled themselves in the part they were to -play, the repugnant thought of giving up their arms to the rebels -threatened to overset everything. Instinctively they threw up their guns -to knock over the impudent guerrillas. The woman strode between them and -the others, and caught hold of their muskets. - -"Don't be fools. Let 'em have your guns," she said, and she caught Si's -with such quick unexpectedness that she wrenched it from his grasp and -flung202 it to the man who wanted Shorty's. She threw one arm around -Shorty's neck, with a hug so muscular that his breath failed, and she -wrenched his gun away. She kept this in her hand, however. - -"Now, I want these 'ere men treated right," she announced to the others, -"and I'm a-gwine to have 'em treated right, or I'll bust somebody's -skillet. They'uns is my takings, and I'm a-gwine to have all the say -'bout 'em. I've never interfered with any Yankees any o' yo'uns have -brung in. Yo've done with them as you pleased, an' I'm a-gwine to do -with these jest as I please, and yo'uns that don't like hit kin jest -lump hit, that's all." - -Take Your Arm from Around That Yank's Neck 203 - -"'Frony Bolster, I want yo' to take yo'r arms from around that Yank's -neck," said the man who had tried to take Shorty's gun. "I won't 'low -yo' to put yo'r arm 'round another man's neck as long's I'm alive to -stop it." - -"Ye won't, Jeff Hackberry," she sneered. "Jealous, air ye? You've got no -bizniss o' bein'. Done tole ye 'long ago I'd never marry yo', so long as -I could find a man who has two good eyes and a 'spectable character. -I've done found him. Here he is, and 'Squire Corson 'll splice us to- -night." - -How much of each of the emotions of jealousy, disappointment, hurt -vanity, and rebel antagonism went into the howl that Mr. Jeff Hackberry -set up at this announcement will never be known. He made a rush with -clenched fists at Shorty. - -A better description could be given of the operations of the center of a -tornado than of the events of the next few minutes. Shorty and Hackberry -grappled fiercely. Mrs. Bolster mixed in to stop the fight and save -Shorty. Si and the other three rebels flung themselves into the -whirlpool of strikes, kicks, and grapples. The delighted children came -rushing in, and eagerly joined the fray, striking with charming -impartiality at every opportunity to get a lick in anywhere on anybody; -and finally the legion of dogs, to whom such scenes seemed familiar and -gladsome, rushed in with an ear-splitting clamor, and jumped and bit at -the arms and legs that went flying around.204 - -This was too violent to last long. Everybody and everything had to stop -from sheer exhaustion. But when the stop came Mrs. Bolster was sitting -on the prostrate form of Jeff Hackberry. The others were disentangling -themselves from one another, the children and the dogs, and apparently -trying to get themselves into relation with the points of the compass -and understand what had been happening. - -"Have yo' had enough, Jeff Hackberry," inquired Mrs. Bolster, "or will -yo' obleege me to gouge yer other eye out afore yo' come to yer senses?" - -"Le' me up, 'Frony," pleaded the man, "an' then we kin talk this thing -over." - - - - - -CHAPTER XV. SHORTY NEARLY GOT MARRIED BREAKING UP A BAD REBEL NEST IS NO -PICNIC. - -WHEN physical exhaustion called a halt in the fracas, Mrs. Bolster was -seated on Jeff Hackberry's breast with her sinewy hands clutching his -long hair, and her thumb, with a cruel, long nail, pressing the ball of -his one good eye. Shorty was holding down one of the guerrillas who had -tried to climb on his back when he was grappling with Hackberry. Si had -knocked one guerrilla senseless with his gun-barrel, and now came to a -breathless standstill in a struggle with another for the possession of -his gun. The children and dogs had broken up into several smaller -stormcenters, in each of which a vicious fight was going on. In some it -was dog and dog; in some child and child, and in others dogs and -children mixed. - -Then they all halted to observe the outcome of the discussion between -Mrs. Bolster and Jeff Hackberry. - -"Holler 'nuff, Jeff, or out goes yer last light," commanded Mrs. -Bolster, emphasizing her words by rising a little, and then settling -down on Jeff's breast with a force that drove near every spoonful of -breath out of him. - -"'Frony, le' me up," he begged in gasps.206 - -"Mrs. Bolster," she reminded him, with another jounce upon his chest. - -"Mrs. Bolster, le' me up. I'd 'a' got away with that 'ere Yank ef ye' -hedn't tripped me with them long legs o' your'n." - -"I'm right smart on the trip, aint I," she grinned. "I never seed a man -yit that I couldn't throw in any sort of a rastle." - -"Le' me up, Mrs. Bolster, an le's begin over agin, an' yo' keep out," -begged Hackberry. - -"Not much I won't. I ain't that kind of a chicken," she asserted with -another jounce. "When I down a man I down him fer good, an' he never -gits up agin 'till he caves entirely. If I let yo' up, will yo' swar to -quite down peaceable as a lamb, an' make the rest do the same?" - -"Never," asserted Hackberry. "I'm ergwine to have it out with that -Yank." - -"No you haint," she replied with a still more emphatic jounce that made -Hackberry use all the breath left him to groan. - -"I'll quit," he said, with his next instalment of atmosphere. - -"Will yo' agree t' let me marry this Yank, an' t' give me away as my -oldest friend, nearest o' kin, an' best man?" she inquired, rising -sufficiently to let him take in a full breath and give a free, unforced -answer. - -"Nary a time," he shrieked. "I'll die fust, afore I'll 'low yo' t' marry -ary other man but me." - -"Then you'll lose yor bClinker, yo' pigheaded, likker-guzzling', ornery, -no-account sand-hill crane," she said, viciously coming down on his -chest with207 her full weight and sticking the point of hei nail against -his eye. "I wouldn't marry yo' if ye wuz the last nubbin' in the Lord -A'mighty's crib, and thar'd never be another crap o' men. Ye'll never -git no chance to make me yer slave, and beat me and starve me t' death -as yo' did Nance Brill. I ain't gwine t' fool with yer pervarsity nary a -minnit longer. Say this instant whether yo'll do as I say with a -freewill and good heart, or out goes yer peeper." "I promise," groaned -Jeff.208 - -"Yo' sw'ar hit?" she demanded. - -"Yes, I sw'ar hit," answered Jeff. - -Mrs. Bolster rose, and confirmed the contract by giving him a kick in -the side with her heavy brogan. - -"That's jest a lovetap," she remarked, "'t let yo' know t' le' me alone -hereafter. Now, le's straighten things around here fer a pleasant time." - -She initiated her proposed era of good feeling by a sounding kick in the -ribs of the most obstreperous of the dogs, and a slap on the face of a -12-year-old girl, who was the noisest and most pugnacious of the lot. -Each of these set up a howl, but there was a general acquiescence in her -assertion of authority. - -Jeff Sat up and Rubbed Himself 208 - -Jeff Hackberry sat up, scratched and rubbed himself, seemed to be trying -to once more get a full supply of air in his lungs, and turned a one- -eyed glare on his surroundings. The guerrilla whom Si had knocked down -began to show signs of returning consciousness, but no one paid any -attention to him. One of the other two pulled out a piece of tobacco, -split it in two, put the bigger half in his mouth and handed the -remainder to his partner. Both began chewing meditatively and looking -with vacant eyes for the next act in the drama. Shorty regained his gun, -and he and Si looked inquiringly at one another and the mistress of the -ranch. - -"Come on up t' the house," she said, starting in that direction. The -rest followed, with Si and Shorty in the lead. - -The boys gazed around them with strong curiosity. The interior was like -that of the other log cabins they had seen—a rough puncheon floor for -the single room, a fireplace as big as a barn door, built of rough209 -stones, with a hearth of undressed flat stones, upon which sat a few -clumsy cooking utensils of heavy cast-iron, three-legged stools for -chairs, a table of rough whip-sawed boards held together by wooden pins. -In two of the corners were beds made of a layer of poles resting upon a -stick supported at one end upon a log in the wall and at the other end a -forked stick driven between the puncheons into the ground below. Upon -this was a pile of beech leaves doing duty as a mattress. The bed- -clothes were a mass of ragged fabrics, sheepskins, etc., used in the -daytime for saddle-blankets and at night upon the bed. There had been -added to them, however, looking particularly good and rich in contrast -with their squalor, several blankets with "U. S." marked upon them. -Around the room were canteens, shoes, and other soldier belongings. - -"Have they killed and robbed the men to whom these belonged, or merely -traded whisky for them?" was the thought that instantly flashed through -Si's and Shorty's minds. The answer seemed to be favorable to murder and -robbery. "Set down an' make yourselves at home. I'll git yo' out suthin' -t' wet yer whistles," said Mrs. Bolster, wreathing as much graciousness -as she could into her weathered-wood countenance. She apparently kicked -at the same instant a stool toward them with her left foot, and a dog -out of the way with her right, a performance that excited Shorty's -admiration. - -"When I see a woman kick in different directions with both feet at the -same time, I understood how dangerous her trip would be in a rastle," he -said afterward.210 - -Si and Shorty shoved two of the stools so that they could sit with their -backs to the wall, still holding their guns. - -The guerrillas came filing in, with an expectant look on their faces. -Even Jeff Hackberry looked more thirstily longing than wrathful. The man -who had fallen under Si's gunbarrel had gotten able to walk, was rubbing -his head and moaning with the design of attracting attention and -sympathy. - -Mrs. Bolster produced a key from her pocket. The others understood what -this meant. They lifted aside some sacks of meal and shelled corn, and -revealed a puncheon which had been cut in two, and the short piece was -garnished by rude iron hinges and hasp, all probably taken from some -burned barn. The hasp was locked into the staple by one of the heavy -padlocks customary on the plantations, and this Mr. Bolster proceeded to -open with her key. When the puncheon was turned up it revealed a pit -beneath, from which she lifted a large jug of whisky. She poured some -out in a tin cup and handed it to Shorty. - -"Take a big swig," she said; "hit's mouty good stuff—ole Jeff Thompson's -brewin' from yaller corn raised on rich bottom land." - -Si trembled as he saw his partner take the cup. Shorty smelled it -appreciatively. "That is good stuff," he said. "Roses ain't nowhere -alongside." - -He put the cup to his lips and took a sip. - -"Tastes as good as it smells," he said, heartily, while the mouths of -the guerrillas were watering. He put the cup again to his lips, as if to -take a deep draft. Then came a short cough and a tremendous211 sputter, -followed by more painful coughing and strangling. - -"Jest my infernal luck," gasped Shorty. "I would talk, an' I got some -down the wrong way. - -"Lord, it's burnin' my lights out. Gi' me a drink o' water, somebody." - -One of the children handed him a gourdful of water, while he continued -to cough and sputter and blame himself for talking when he was drinking. - -The woman handed the cup to Si, who feared that the liquor might be -poisoned or drugged. He made a pretense of drinking, and then handed the -cup back, making motions that his throat was so sore that he could not -drink much. Mrs. Bolster looked at him suspiciously, but the clamor of -the guerillas distracted her attention, and she turned to supply them. - -"No, Jeff Hackberry," she said firmly, "yo' can't have more'n two -fingers. I know yo' of old, an' jest how much yo' orter tote. Two -fingers'll make yo' comfortable an' sociable; three'll raise the devil -in yo,' an' four'll make yo' dancin' drunk, when yo'll have t' be held -down. Yo'll have jest two fingers, an' not a drap more." - -"Jest another finger, 'Frony. Remember, yo've bin orful rough on me, an' -I need more. I'll promise t' be good," pleaded Hackberry. - -"No, not a drap more'n two fingers now. If yo' behave yo'self I'll give -yo' another two fingers by-an'-by." - -"Hackberry swallowed his portion at a thirsty gulp and sat down on the -door-sill to let it do its invigorating work. The other two guerrillas -were212 given each two fingers, and the man whom Si knocked down had his -moanings rewarded by three fingers and a liberal application in addition -to the wound on his head, which he declared was much relieved by it. - -"Set your guns up agin the wall an' ack nacherul," commanded Mrs. -Bolster. "Nobody's a-gwine to hurt yo'. The 'Squire'll be here soon, -we'll git spliced, an' have a good time all around." - -The noisy barking of the dogs announced the approach of someone. - -"Lord, I hope that's 'Squire Corson," said Mrs. Bolster, running eagerly -to the door. "If hit's him, we kin go right ahead with the weddin'." - -"If that's the 'Squire," said Shorty, in a low whisper, without turning -his head, "we'll grab our guns and fight to the death. We may clean out -this gang." - -Si's attention had been in the meanwhile attracted to some boxes -concealed under the beds, and his curiosity was aroused as to what such -unusual things in a cabin might contain. - -"No; hit's Capt. Sol. Simmons," said she in a tone of disappointment -mixed with active displeasure. "Now, he'll be cavortin' and tearin' -around, and wantin' t' kill somebody. I wish he wuz whar hit's a good -deal hotter." - -She came over to where the boys were sitting, and said in a low tone: - -"This man's allers makin' trouble, an' he's bad from his boots up. Keep -a stiff upper lip, both on yo', an' we'll try t' manage him. Don't -weaken. Hit'll do no good. He'll be wuss'n ever then."213 - -Si and Shorty instinctively felt for the revolvers in their pockets. - -The newcomer tied his horse to a sapling and strode into the house. The -guerrillas seemed rather more fearful than otherwise to see him, but met -him with manners that were ranged from respectful by Jeff Hackberry to -absolute servility by the others. He was a burly, black-bearded man, -wearing a fairly-good uniform of a rebel Captain. His face showed that -he was a bully, and a cruel one. - -He acknowledged in an overbearing way the greetings of the others, and -called out imperiously: - -"'Frony, gi' me a stiff dram o' yer best at wunst. My throat's drier'n a -lime-kiln. Bin ridin' all mornin'." - -"Folks wantin' likker don't say must t' me, but will yo', an' please," -she answered sulkily. - -"'Must,' 'please,' yo' hag," he said savagely. "Talk that a-way to me. -I'll 'please' yo'. I've killed two Yankees this mornin', an' I'm not in -the humor to fool around with an old pennyroyal huzzy like yo'. Gi' me -some whisky at wunst, or I'll baste yo'." - -If ever Mrs. Bolster had been favorably disposed to him, she could not -endure to have him treat her this way before Shorty. She would assert -herself before him if ever. - -She put her arms akimbo and retorted vigorously: - -"Nary drap o' likker yo'll git from me, Sol. Simmons. Go and git yer -likker whar y're welcome. Y're not welcome here. I don't keer if yo' -have killed two Yankees or 20 Yankees. Y're allers talkin' about killin' -Yankees, but nobody never sees none that y've killed. I'm a better -Confederit than yo'214 ever dared be. I'm doin' more for the Southern -Confedrisy. Y're allers a-blowin' while I'm allers adoin.' Everybody -knows that. Talk about the two Yankees y've killed, an' which nobody's -seed, here I've brung two Yankees right outen their camps, an' have 'em -to show. More'n that, they're gwine to jine we'uns." - -She indicated the two boys with a wave of her hand. Simmons seemed to -see them for the first time. - -"Yankees here, an' yo' haint killed 'em," he yelled. He put his hand to -his revolver and stepped forward. The two boys jumped up and snatched -their guns, but before another move could be made Mrs. Bolster's -unfailing trip brought Simmons heavily to the floor, with his revolver -half out the holster. In an instant she sat down heavily upon him, and -laid her brawny hand upon his pistol. The dogs and children gathered -around in joyous expectation of a renewal of general hostilities. But -the dogs broke away at the scent or sight of someone approaching. - -"Mebbe that's 'Squire Corson,'" said Mrs. Bolster with a renewed flush -of pleasant anticipation. - -Instead, a rather, good-looking young rebel officer wearing a Major's -silver stars dismounted from his horse and, followed by two men, entered -the cabin. - -"Hello, Simmons," said the Major in a tone of strong rebuke as soon as -he entered. "What in the world are you doing here? Is this the way you -carry out the General's orders? You're at your old tricks again. You -were sent out here early this morning, to capture or drive away that -Yankee picket at Raccoon Ford, so as to let Capt. Gillen come through215 -with his pack-mules. I expected to meet him here and go on with him. -Your men have been waiting at the crossroads for you since daylight, -while you've been loitering around the rear. I ought to have you shot, -and you would be if I reported this to the General. You skulking whelp, -you ought to be shot. But I'll give you one more chance. It may not be -too late yet. Break for your place as fast as you can, and take these -whelps with you. I'll wait here till sundown for you. If you don't -report back to me by that time you'd better make your will. Jump now." - -Mrs. Bolster had let go of Simmons as this exordium proceeded, as she -felt that he was in good hands. - -As they disappeared the Major turned to Mrs. Bolster and inquired: - -"Did Capt. Gillen get through with that quinine and guncaps?" - -"They're thar," she said, pointing to the boxes under the beds. - -"Very good. I've brought some men to take them away. We need them very -badly. Who are these men?" - -Mrs. Bolster told her story about how they were tired of the Abolition -war, and had yielded to her persuasions to join the Southern army. - -The Major looked them over sharply, and began a close cross-questioning -as to where they were born, what regiment they belonged to, how long -they had been in the service, what battles they had been engaged in and -on what part of the field, where their regiment now was, its brigade, -division and corps, commanders, etc., etc.216 - -As Shorty did not see any present occasion for lying, he had no trouble -in telling a convincing straightforward story. Si successfully worked -the loss-of-voice racket, and left the burden of conversation to his -partner. - -The Major seemed satisfied, and said at the conclusion: - -"Very good. I'll take you back with me when I return, and place you in a -good regiment." - -This was a new and startling prospect, which was almost too much for -Shorty's self-control. For a minute he had wild thoughts of -assassinating the Major then and there, and making a run for life. But -he decided to wait a little longer and see what would develop. - -If Mrs. Bolster's hue had permitted she would have turned pale at this -threatened loss of a husband and upsetting of all her plans. She merely -gulped down a lump in her throat and seemed to be thinking. - -She became very attentive to the Major, and brought for his edification -a private bottle of fine old whisky. She set about preparing something -for them to eat. - -Again the dogs barked, and in walked a man dressed in the fatigue -uniform of a Union soldier with the chevrons of a Sergeant. The boys -gave a start of surprise, and a great one when they saw on his cap: - -A 200 Ind. Vols. - -Si would have sprung up to greet him, but Shorty laid a restraining -hand, and whispered:217 - -"He don't belong to our regiment." - -A second glance satisfied Si of this. While it is hardly possibly for a -man to know every other man in his regiment, yet in a little while there -comes something which enables him to know whether any man he meets does -or does not belong to his regiment. - -The Major and Mrs. Bolster instantly recognized the newcomer. - -"Awful glad to see you, Tuggers," said the Major, rising and shaking his -hand. "Did you get through without any trouble?" - -"Not a bit o' trouble, thanks to you and Mrs. Bolster here. She got me -this uniform and this cap," said Tuggers, taking off the latter article -and scanning the lettering. "Rather more brass than I'm in the habit of -carrying on top of my head, no matter how much I have in my face. I got -your not giving me the positions of the Yankee regiments, for which I -suppose we must also thank Mrs. Bolster. I found them all correct. As -the 200th Ind. was the farthest out, I had no difficulty getting through -the rest of them by saying that I was on my way to my regiment. Of -course, I didn't come through the camp of the 200th Ind., but modestly -sought a byroad which Mrs. Bolster had put me onto. I've got a lot of -important letters from the mail in Nashville, among which are some -letters for the General, which I am told are highly important. I'm -mighty glad to be able to place them in your hands, and relieve myself -of the responsibility. Here they are. Thanks, I don't care if I do, -since you press me so hard,"218 said he, without change of voice, as he -handed over the letters and picked up the bottle and tin cup. - -"Excuse me, Tuggers, for not asking you before," said the Major. "I was -so interested in you and your letters I forgot for the moment that you -might be thirsty. Help yourself." - -"I didn't forget it," said Tuggers, pouring out a liberal dram. "Here's -to our deserving selves and our glorious Cause." - -A shy girl of about eight had responded to Si's persistent -encouragement, and sidled up to him, examining his buttons and -accouterments. Si gave her some buttons he had in his pocket, and showed -her his knife and other trinkets in his pockets. The other children -began to gather around, much interested in the elaborate dumb show he -was making of his inability to speak. - -Again the dogs barked. Mrs. Bolster ran to the door. "Hit's 'Squire -Corson," she exclaimed joyously, and hustled around to make extra -preparations for his entertainment. - -The 'Squire entered, mopping his face with his bandana, and moving with -the deliberation and dignity consistent with his official position. - -He looked at the boys with a severe, judicial eye, and gave the ominous -little cough with which he was wont to precede sentences. But he -recognized the Major and Tuggers, and immediately his attention was -centered in them. They were connected with Army Headquarters; they were -repositories of news which he could spread among his constituents. He -greeted them effusively, and was only too glad to accept their -invitation to sit down and drink. But219 he suggested, with official -prudence, that they go out in front and sit under a tree where they -could converse wore at liberty. - -"Afore you go out, 'Squire," said Mrs. Bolster, with an attempt at -coyness, "I want yo' t' do a little job fer me." - -Shorty's hair tried to stand on end. - -"Jest wait a little, my good woman," said the 'Squire patronizingly. "I -want to talk to these gentlemen first; I kin 'tend to your matter any -time." - -They lighted their pipes, and talked and talked, while Mrs. Bolster -fidgeted around in growing anxiety. Finally, as the sun was going down, -she could stand it no longer, and approached the group. - -"'Squire," she said, "I'm orferly anxious to have a little job o' mine -done. 'Twon't take yo' five minits. Please 'tend to it right away." - -"What is it she wants?" inquired the Major. - -"I think she wants me to marry her to a Yankee deserter in there. She -whispered suthin' o' that kind to me awhile ago." - -"That reminds me," said the Major; "I want you to swear those two men -into the service of the Southern Confederacy. You might as well do it -now, if you please, for I want to take them back with me and put them -into a regiment." - -"That won't give much of a honeymoon to Mrs. Bolster," grinned the -'Squire. - -"Well, we've all got to make sacrifices for the Cause," said the Major; -"her honeymoon'll be the sweeter for being postponed. I've had to -postpone mine." - -"Well, bring the men out," said the 'Squire, pouring himself out another -drink.220 - -Si and Shorty had moved to the front door when Mrs. Bolster went out, -and could hear the whole conversation. They looked at one another. Their -faces were whiter than they had ever been on the field of battle. - -"Take the oath of allegiance to the Southern Confederacy? Die right here -a hundred times," surged through both their hearts. - -Si pulled the bunches of firecrackers from his pocket, undid them before -the children's wondering eyes. He went through a pantomime to tell them -to take a coal from the fire, run out back with them, and touch it to -the fuses. - -"Take a coal, run back, and tech it to them strings," said Shorty, -forgetting himself in his excitement. "It'll be the greatest fun ye ever -saw." - -"What's that y're sayin'?" said Mrs. Bolster. - -"Jest talkin' to the children," said Shorty, seeing with relief the -children bolt out of the back door. He slipped his hand on his revolver, -determined to kill the 'Squire, the Major, and the other three men -before he would take a syllable of the oath. - -"Come out here, men," said the Major authoritatively. Si slipped his -hand into his pocket, grasped his revolver, and walked forward very -slowly. - -"Ahem," said the 'Squire, with an official cough. "Raise yer right -hands, and repeat these words after me, givin' your own names." - -The other rebels took off their hats. - -The dogs raised a clamor, which directed all eyes to the road. Sol -Simmons and the rest could be seen coming on a dead run. - -"What does that mean?" said the Major anxiously.221 - -At the same instant there was a series of crashes behind the house; the -firecrackers were going off like a volley of rifle-shots. The Major -whirled around to see what that meant, and looked into the muzzle of -Shorty's revolver. - -"Surrender, or I'll kill you," shouted Shorty desperately. "Don't stop a -minit. Throw up your hands, I tell you." - -Si was making a similar demand on Tuggers, while the 'Squire was -standing, open-mouthed, with the first word of the oath apparently still -on his tongue. - -The Major sprang at Shorty, whose bullet cut his hair. The next bullet -caught the officer in the shoulder, and he reeled and went down. Si was -not so fortunate with Tuggers, who succeeded in grappling him. Simmons -dashed by and struck Si, in passing, with his fist, which sent him to -the ground, with Tuggers on top. - -The next minute the 'Squire, who was the only one who had any -opportunity to look, saw Yankees pop out of the brush and jump the -fences in a long, irregular line which immediately surrounded the house. -Capt. McGillicuddy cut down Simmons with his sword, and the rest -incontinently surrendered. - -"We had got tired of waiting, and were on the point of dashing in, -anyhow, when we heard the firecrackers," said Capt. McGillicuddy, after -the prisoners had been secured and things quieted down. "That feller -that I cut down was out there with a squad and caught sight of us, and -started back this way, and I concluded to follow him up and jump the -house. Neither of you hurt, are you?"222 - -"Not hurt a mite," answered Shorty cheerfully, "but it's the closest -squeak I ever had. Wouldn't go through it agin for a pile o' greenbacks -big as a cornshock. Say, Cap., you've made a ten-strike today that ought -to make you a Major. That house's plum full o' contraband, and there's a -lot o' important letters there. But, say, Cap., I want you to either -kill that 'Squire or git him as fur away as possible. I ain't safe a -minnit as long as him and that woman's a-nigh me." - - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. AN UNEXPECTED MARRIAGE THE BOYS CAPTURE REBELS AND -ADMINISTER THE OATH. - -THE REBEL Major accepted the unexpected turn of events with soldierly -philosophy. Tuggers, captured in a blue uniform, saw the ignominious -fate of a spy loom up before his eyes. His face grew very white and set. -He sat down on a log, looked far away, and seemed oblivious to -everything around him. - -Jeff Hackberry and Sol Simmons were frightened into nerveless terror, -and occasionally sighed and groaned audibly. Their men huddled together -like frightened sheep, and looked anxiously at every move of their -captors. - -'Squire Corson had ventured two or three remarks in a judicial and -advisory way, but had been ordered by Capt. McGillicuddy to sit down and -keep quiet. He took a seat on a stump, pulled a large bandana out of his -beaver crowned hat, wiped his bald head, and anxiously surveyed the -scene as if looking for an opportunity when the power and dignity of the -State of Tennessee might be invoked to advantage. - -Only Mrs. Bolster retained her aggressiveness and her tongue. If -anything, she seemed to be more savage and virulent than ever. She was -wild that she had been outwitted, and particularly by Si, whose fluent -speech had returned the moment the224 firecrackers went oif. She poured -out volleys of scorching epithets on all the Yankees from President -Lincoln down to Corp'l Si Klegg, and fervently invoked for them speedy -death and eternal torment where the worm dieth not and the fire is not -quenched. - -Capt. McGillicuddy rounded up his prisoners, took arms from those who -still retained them, had Si and Shorty do what they could toward -dressing the Major's wound, and then began an examination of the house. - -He found abundant evidence of all that he, Si and Shorty had believed of -it. It was a rendezvous for spies, both great and small—both those, like -Mrs. Bolster, who infested our camps, and got news of whatever was going -on there, and those who operated on a larger scale, passing directly -from the Headquarters of the rebels to the Headquarters of ours, and to -the rear, and the sources of information at Nashville and Louisville. It -was an important station on the route for smuggling gun-caps, quinine, -medicines and other contraband from the North. Quantities of these were -there waiting to be forwarded. As the source of the fighting whisky -introduced into the camp of the 200th Ind. too much was known of it to -require any further information. And it was more than probable that it -was the scene of darker crimes—Union soldiers lured thither under some -pretext, murdered and robbed. - -"How in the world am I going to break this infernal nest up?" said Capt. -McGillicuddy, with a puzzled air, after he had ordered the whisky -destroyed and the other things gotten in shape to send225 back to camp. -"By rights, I ought to burn that house down, but that would leave all -these children without shelter. By the same token, I ought to shoot or -at least send off to prison that old she-catamount, but that would mean -starving the children to death. I declare, I don't know what to do." - -He had drawn apart a little with Si and Shorty, to whom he spoke -confidentially, while casting his eyes about him as if seeking some -solution of the problem. - -"If you'll allow me. Captain," said Shorty, "I've an idee. Now that -we've got the trap, let's set it agin, and see if we can't ketch some -more." - -"Splendid idea. Shorty," said the Captain, catching on at once. - -"And my idee," said Shorty, emboldened by the reception of his first -suggestion, "is that you take all the company but me and Si and four or -fire of the boys back to camp, leavin' us here until to-morrow at least. -There'll probably some very interestin' men happen along here to-night, -not knowing what's happened, and we'll jest quietly yank 'em in." - -"That's good," assented the Captain. - -"In the meantime," continued Shorty, "you kin be considerin' what you'll -do with the house. It may be best to let it stand, and watch it. That's -a good way to do with a bee-tree or a woodchuck hole. - -"I believe you are right. I'll do as you say. Si, you and Shorty pick -out as many men as you want to stay with you. I'll leave one of these -horses with you. If you should happen to need any more, mount one of the -boys and send him back for help. I'll come out with the whole -company."226 - -Shorty and Si consulted together for a few minutes, picked out their -men, gave their names to the Captain, and received his assent to the -selection. Then Shorty said: - -"Captain, you don't want to take that old woman, the 'Squire and that -skunk they call Jeff Hackberry back to camp with you, do you? Leave 'em -here with us. I've got a little scheme." - -"The old woman and the 'Squire you can take and welcome," answered the -Captain. "I'll be glad to have them oif my hands. But Hackberry is a -rebel soldier. I don't know about giving him up." - -"Leave him with us, then. We'll turn him back to you all right, and the -old woman and the 'Squire, too, if you want 'em." - -"No," said the Captain, with an impatient wave of his hand. "Keep them, -do what you please with them. If you should accidentally kill the old -woman I should not be unduly distressed. But don't let Hackberry get -away from you. I'll take the rest back to camp, and I must start at -once, for it's getting late, and we didn't bring any rations with us. Do -you suppose you can find enough around the house to keep you till -morning?" - -"O, yes," said Si. "There's a sack of meal in there and some side-meat. -We gave the old woman a lot of coffee. We'll make out all right." - -The prisoners had been watching the Captain and his men with greatest -anxiety. They now saw Si with his squad take the 'Squire. Mrs. Bolster -and Hackberry off to one side, while the Captain placed the remainder of -the prisoners in the center of his company and started back to camp with -them.227 - -There was something in this separation that terrified even Mrs. Bolster, -who stopped railing and began to look frightened. - -"What are yo'uns goin' to do with we'uns?" she inquired hoarsely of Si. - -"You'll find out soon enough," said Si significantly. "Set down there on -that log and think about what you deserve. You might put in any spare -time you have in doing some big repentin'." - -Hackberry began to whine and beg for mercy, but Shorty ordered him to -keep silent. - -"I want you to understand," said the 'Squire, "that I'm a regerlarly -elected and qualified Magistrate o' the State o' Tennessee; that I'm not -subjeck to military laws, and if any harm comes to me you'll have to -answer for it to the State o' Tennessee." - -"Blast the State o' Tennessee," said Shorty contemptuously. "When we git -through there won't be no State o' Tennessee. It'll be roasting in the -same logheap with South Caroliny and Virginny, with Jeff Davis brilin' -in the middle." - -"Boys," ordered Si, "a couple of you look around the house and see if -you can't find a mattock and shovel." - -Terrible fears assailed the three unhappy prisoners at this. What could -a mattock and shovel be wanted for but to dig their graves? - -Shorty stepped over a little distance to a large clump of "red-sticks." -These grow in long wands of brilliant red, as straight as a corn-stalk, -and slenderer. They are much used about the farms of the South for rods -for rough measurement. He cut one off about six feet long and stripped -off its leaves.228 - -The anxious eyes of the prisoners followed every movement. - -Two of the boys appeared with an old mattock and shovel. - -"Guess you'd better dig right over there," said Si, indicating a little -bare knoll. - -"Nothin' else's ever bin planted there. At least nothin's ever come up. -The chances are agin their comin' up if we plant 'em there." - -"Stand up," said Shorty, approaching Hackberry with the bright crimson -rod in his hand. "I'm goin' to measure you for a grass-green suit -that'll last you till Gabriel blows his horn." - -Hackberry gave a howl of terror. The 'Squire and Mrs. Bolster began a -clamor of protests. - -"Don't fuss," said Shorty calmly to them, as he took Hackberry's -dimensions. "I ain't goin' to show no partiality. I'll serve you both -the same way. Your turns 'll come after his'n." - -The children, aware that something unusual was going on, yet unable to -comprehend what it was, stood silently around, their fingers in their -mouths and their vacant eyes fixed in the stolid stare of the -mountaineer youth. Even the dogs were quiet, and seemed watching the -scene with more understanding than the children. - -Mrs. Bolster's mood suddenly changed from bitter vituperation. She -actually burst into tears, and began pleading for her life, and making -earnest promises as to better conduct in the future. The 'Squire and -Hackberry followed suit, and blubbered like schoolboys. Mrs. Bolster -reminded Si and Shorty how she had saved them from being killed by -the229 fierce Hackberry and the still fiercer Simmons. This seemed to -move them. She tried a ghastly travesty of feminine blandishments by -telling Shorty how handsome she had thought him, and had fallen in love -with him at first sight. Shorty gave a grimace at this. He and Si -stepped back a little for consultation. - -When they came back Shorty said oracularly: - -"Our orders is strict, and we should've carried 'em out at once. But, -talkin' with my partner here, we're reminded o' somethin'. We believe -it's the law that when a man or woman is sentenced to death the -execution kin be put off if they kin find anybody to marry 'em. Is that -good law, 'Squire?" - -"H-m-m," answered the Magistrate, resuming his judicial manner at once; -"that is a general belief, and I've heard o' some instances of it. But -before sayin' positively, I should like to examine the authorities an' -hear argument." - -"Well, there hain't goin' to be no continuance in this case for you to -look up authorities and hear arguments," said Shorty decisively. "We're -the higher court in this case, and we decided that the law's good enough -for it. We've settled that if Mrs. Bolster 'll marry Hackberry, and -Hackberry 'll marry Mrs. Bolster, and you'll marry 'em both, we'll grant -a stay o' proceedings in the matter o' the execution o' the sentence o' -death until we kin be advised by the higher authorities." - -"I'll do anything. Mister," blubbered Hackberry. "I'll marry her this -minnit. Say the words, 'Squire." - -"I've said I'd rather die 10 times over than marry yo', Jeff Hackberry," -murmured Mrs. Bolster. "I've280 bin the wife o' one ornery snipe of a -whisky-sucking sand-digger, and when the Lord freed me from him I said -I'd never git yoked with another. But I s'pose I've got to live for my -children, though the Lord knows the yaller-headed brats hain't wuth hit. -They're everyone of 'em their dad over agin—all Bolsters, and not wuth -the powder to blow 'em to kingdom come. I'd a heap ruther marry Jeff -Hackberry to make sure o' havin' him shot than to save him from -shootin'." - -"You hain't no choice, Madam," said Shorty severely. "Law and orders is -strict on that pint." - -"Well, then," said she, "since hit's a ch'ice betwixt death and Jeff -Hackberry, I'll take Jeff Hackberry, though I wouldn't take him on no -other terms, and I'm afeared I'm makin' a mistake as hit is." - -"What do you say, 'Squire?" asked Shorty. - -"I've bin studyin' on jest whar I come in," answered the Magistrate. -"These two save their necks by marryin', but do you understand that the -law says that the Magistrate who marries 'em gits his neck saved?" - -"The court is not clear on that as a p'int o' law," said Shorty; "but in -the present case it'll hold that the 'Squire who does the splicin' gets -as much of a rake-off as the rest. This is not to be considered a -precedent, however." - -"All right," assented the 'Squire; "let the couple jine hands." - -With an air of glad relief, Hackberry sprang up and put out his hand. -Mrs. Bolster came up more slowly and reluctantly grasped his hairy fist -in her231 large, skinny hand. The 'Squire stood up before them in his -most impressive attitude. - -"Hold on," suddenly called out Tom Welch, who was the "guard-house -lawyer" of Co. Q, and constantly drawing the "Regulations," the -"Tactics," and the "Constitution and Laws of the United States," in -which he was sharply proficient, upon the members of the regiment. "I -raise the point that the 'Squire can't officiate until he has taken the -oath of allegiance to the United States." - -Si and Shorty looked at one another. - -"That's a good point," said Si. "He's got to take the oath of -allegiance." - -"Never," shouted the 'Squire, who had begun to recover his self- -confidence. "Never, as long as I live. I've sworn allegiance to the -Southern Confederacy, and won't take no other oath." - -"Grave for one!" called out Shorty to the boys with the pick and shovel, -as if he were giving an order in a restaurant. "Full size, and hurry up -with it." - -He picked up his measuring rod and started to take the 'Squire's -dimensions. - -The 'Squire wilted at once. "I s'pose I've got to yield to force," he -muttered. "I'll take the oath." - -"Who knows the oath?" inquired Si. "Do you, Tom?" - -"Not exactly," replied Tom, non-plused for once. "But I know the oath we -took when mustered in. That ought to do. What's good enough for us is -good enough for him." - -"Go ahead," ordered Si. - -"We ought to have a Bible by rights," said Tom.232 - -"Where kin we find your Bible, Mrs. Bolster, asked Si. - -"We'uns air done clean out o' Bibles," she said, rather shamefacedly. -"Thar hain't nary one in the house. I allers said we orter have a Bible. -Hit looked 'spectable to have one in the house. But Andy allers wanted -every cent to guzzle on." - -"Here's a Testament. That'll do," said Tom, handing Si one which some of -the boys had about him. "Le's make 'em all take the oath while we're at -it." - -"You'll all raise your right hands," said Si, opening the book. "Place -your left on this book, and repeat the words after that man there, -givin' your own names." Si was as solemn about it as he believed -everyone should be at such a ceremony. Hackberry and Mrs. Bolster were -not sure which were their right hands, but Si finally got them started, -and Tom Welch repeated slowly and impressively: - -"You do solemnly swear to support the Constitution and laws of the -United States, and all laws made in pursuance thereof, against all -enemies and opposers whatsoever, whether foreign or domestic, and to -obey the orders of all officers duly appointed over you. So help you -God, and kiss this book." - -"And to quit liquor selling, smuggling, spying and giving aid and -comfort to the enemy," added Shorty, and this was joined to the rest of -the oath. - -"I ought to have added that they wash their faces once a day, and put -more shortenin' and fillin' in Mrs. Bolster's pies," said Shorty in an -undertone to233 Si. "But I suppose we oughtn't to ask impossible -things." - -"Now go ahead with the wedding ceremony," ordered Si. - -Again the 'Squire commanded them to join hands, and after mumbling over -the fateful words, pronounced Thomas Jefferson Hackberry and Mrs. -Sophronia Bolster man and wife. - -"Now," said Shorty, who felt at last fully insured against a great -danger, "I believe it's the law and custom for all the witnesses to a -weddin' to see the bride and bridegroom in bed together. You'll go -inside the house and take one of them beds, and after we've seen you -there we'll consider your cases further. You're all right, anyway, until -we hear from camp to-morrow." - -Amid the grins of the rest the boys conducted the newly-weds into the -house. - -He and Si brought out the sack of meal, a few cooking utensils, a side -of bacon, and the package of coffee, which they gave to the other boys -to get supper with. They closed the door behind them, excluding the -children and dogs, and left the pair to their own reflections. - -"Gentlemen, what air you gwine to do with me?" asked the 'Squire. "I'd -powerful like to git on home, if you've no further use for me." - -"We hain't decided what to do with you, you old fomenter o' rebellion," -said Si. "We ought to shoot you for what you've done in stirring up -these men to fight us. We'll settle your case to-morrow. You'll stay -with us till then. We'll give you your234 supper, and after awhile you -kin go in and sleep in that other bed, with the children." - -The 'Squire gave a dismal groan at the prospect, which was lost on the -boys, who were very hungry and hurrying around helping to get supper. - -They built a fine fire and cooked a bountiful meal, of which all, -including the 'Squire and children, partook heartily. A liberal portion, -with big cups of strong coffee, were sent into the bridal couple. As -bed-time drew near, they sent the 'Squire and the children into the -house, and divided themselves up into reliefs to watch during the night. - - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. GATHERING INFORMATION SI AND SHORTY WORK A TRAP AND LAND -SOME PRISONERS. - -THE boys were sitting around having another smoke before crawling into -their blankets, spread under the shade of the scraggly locusts and mangy -cedars, when the dogs raised an alarm. - -"Get back under the shadow of the trees, boys, and keep quiet," said Si. - -"Hello, the house!" came out of the darkness at the foot of the hill. - -"Hello, thar' yourself," answered Shorty, imitating Mrs. Bolster's -voice. - -"Hit's me—Brad Tingle. Don't yo' know my voice? Call off yer dogs. -They'll eat me up." - -"Hullo, Brad; is that yo'? Whar'd yo' come from? Git out, thar, Watch! -Lay down, Tige! Begone, Bones! Come on up, Brad." - -Shorty's imitations of Mrs. Bolster's voice and manner were so good as -to deceive even the dogs, who changed their attitude of shrill defiance -to one of fawning welcome. - -"Whar'd yo' come from, Brad?" repeated Shorty as the newcomer made his -way up the narrow, stony path. - -"Jest from the Yankee camps," answered the newcomer. "Me an' Jim Wyatt's -bin over thar by that236 Hoosier camp tryin' to git the drop on their -Kurnel as he was gwine t' Brigade Headquarters. We a'most had him when a -company o' Yankees that'd bin out in the country for something a'most -run over us. They'uns wuz a-nigh on top o' we'uns afore we seed -they'uns, an' then we'uns had t' scatter. Jim run one way an' me -another. I come back here t' see ef yo' had any o' the boys here. I -hearn tell that a passel o' Yankee ossifers is at a dance over at the -Widder Brewster's an' I thought we'uns might done gether they'uns in ef -we'uns went about it right." - -"So you kin—so you kin," said Shorty, reaching out from behind the -bushes and catching him by the collar. "And to show you how, I'll jest -gether you in." - -A harsh, prolonged, sibilant, far-reaching hiss came from the door of -the cabin, but came too late to warn Brad Tingle of the trap into which -he was walking. - -Shorty understood it at once. He jerked Tingle forward into Si's strong -clutch, and then walked toward the cabin, singing out angrily: - -"Jeff Hackberry, I want you to make that wife o' your'n mind her own -bisness, and let other people's alone. You and her've got quite enough -to do to tend to your honeymoon, without mixing into things that don't -concern you. Take her back to bed and keep her there." - -He went back to where Si was disarming and searching Tingle. The -prisoner had a United States musket, cartridge-box, canteen, and a new -haversack, all of which excited Shorty's ire.237 - -"You hound, you," he said, taking him by the throat with a fierce grasp, -"you've bin bushwhacking, and got these things off some soldier you -sneaked onto and killed. We ought to kill you right now, like we would a -dog." - -"No, Mister, I haint killed nobody; I swar t' God I haint," gurgled the -prisoner, trying to release his throat from Shorty's grip. - -"Where'd you git these things?" demanded Shorty. - -"Mrs. Bolster gi' me the gun an' cartridge-box; I done found the canteen -in the road, an' the poke with the letters in hit the Yank had done laid -down beside him when he stopped t' git a drink, an' me an' Jim crep' up -on him an' ordered him to surrender. He jumped an' run, an' we wuz af -eared to shoot least we bring the rest o' the Yanks down onto us." - -At the mention of letters Si began eagerly examining the contents of the -haversack. He held some of them down to the light of the fire, and then -exclaimed excitedly: - -"Why, boys, this is our mail. It was Will Gobright they were after." - -A sudden change came over Shorty. He took the prisoner by the back of -the neck and ran him up to the door of the house and flung him inside. -Then he hastened back to the fire and said: - -"Le's see them letters." - -A pine-knot had been thrown on the fire to make a bright blaze, by the -light of which Si was laboriously fumbling over the letters. Even by the -flaring, uncertain glare it could be seen that a ruddy hue came into his -face as he came across one with a gorgeous flag on one end of the -envelope, and directed in a238 pinched, labored hand on straight lines -scratched by a pin. He tried to slip the letter unseen by the rest into -his blouse pocket, but fumbled it so badly that he dropped the rest in a -heap at the edge of the fire. - -"Look out, Si," said Shorty crossly, and hastily snatching the letters -away from the fire. "You'll burn up somebody's letters, and then -there'll be no end o' trouble. You're clumsier'n a foundered horse. Your -fingers are all thumbs." - -"Handle them yourself, if you think you kin do any better," said Si, -who, having got all that he wanted, lost interest in the rest. If Si's -fingers were all thumbs. Shorty's seemed all fists. Besides, his reading -of handwriting was about as laborious as climbing a ladder. He tackled -the lot bravely, though, and laboriously spelled out and guessed one -address after another, until suddenly his eye was glued on a postmark -that differed from the others. "Wis." first caught his glance, and he -turned the envelope around until he had spelled out "Bad Ax" as the rest -of the imprint. This was enough. Nobody else in the regiment got letters -from Bad Ax, Wis. He fumbled the letter into his blouse pocket, and in -turn dropped the rest at the edge of the fire, arousing protests from -the other boys. - -"Well, if any o' you think you kin do better'n I kin, take 'em up. There -they are," said he. "You go over 'em, Tom Welch. I must look around a -little." - -Shorty secretly caressed the precious envelope in his pocket with his -great, strong fingers, and pondered as to how he was going to get an -opportunity to read the letter before daylight. It was too sacred239 and -too sweet to be opened and read before the eyes of his unsympathetic, -teasing comrades, and yet it seemed an eternity to wait till morning. He -stole a glance out of the corner of his eye at Si, who was going through -the same process, as he stood with abstracted air on the other side of -the fire. The sudden clamor of the dogs recalled them to present duties. - -"Hullo, the house!" came out of the darkness. - -"Hullo, yourself!" replied Shorty, in Mrs. Bolster's tones. - -"It's me—Groundhog. Call off yer dogs." - -Si and Shorty looked startled, and exchanged significant glances. -"Needn't 've told it was him," said Shorty. "I could smell his breath -even this far. Hullo, Groundhog," he continued in loud tones. "Come on -up. Git out, Watch! Lay down, Tige! Begone, Bones! Come on up, -Groundhog. What's the news?" - -A louder, longer, more penetrating hiss than ever sounded from the -house. Shorty looked around angrily. Si made a break for the door. - -"No, I can't come up now," said Groundhog; "I jest come by to see if -things wuz all right. A company went out o' camp this mornin' for some -place that I couldn't find out. I couldn't git word t' you, an' I've bin -anxious 'bout whether it come this way." - -"Never tetched us," answered Shorty, in perfect reproduction of Mrs. -Bolster's accents. "We'uns is all right." - -The hissing from the cabin became so loud that it seemed impossible for -Groundhog not to hear it.240 - -"Blast it, Si, can't you gag that old guinea-hen," said Shorty, in a -savage undertone. - -Si was in the meanwhile muttering all sorts of savage threats at Mrs. -Bolster, the least of which was to go in and choke the life out of her -if she did not stop her signalling. - -"Glad t' hear it," said Groundhog. "I was a leetle skeery all day about -it, an' come out as soon's I could. Have yo' seed Brad Tingle?" - -"Yes; seen him to-day." - -"D' yo' know whar he is? Kin yo' git word to him quick?" - -"Yes, indeed; right off." - -"Well, send word to him as soon as you kin, that I've got the mules -ready for stampedin' an' runnin' off at any time, an' waitin' for him. -The sooner he kin jump the corral the better. To-night, if he kin, but -suttinly not later'n to-morrer night. Be sure and git word to him by -early to-morrer mornin' at the furthest." - -"I'll be sure t' git word t' him this very night," answered the -fictitious Mrs. Bolster. - -"Well, good-night. I must hurry along, an' git back afore the second -relief goes off. All my friends air on it. See yo' ter-morrer, if I -kin." - -"You jest bet you'll see me to-morrow," said Shorty grimly, as he heard -Groundhog's mule clatter away. "If you don't see me the disappointment -'ll come nigh breaking my heart. Now I'll go in and learn Mr. and Mrs. -Hackberry how to spend the first night o' their wedded lives." - -"I don't keer ef yo' do shoot me. I'd a heap ruther be shot than not," -she was saying to Si as Shorty241 came up. "I've changed my mind sence -I've bin put in here. I'd a heap ruther die than live with Jeff -Hackberry." - -"Never knowed married folks to git tired o' one another so soon," -commented Shorty. "But I should've thought that Jeff' d got tired first. -But this it no time to fool around with fambly jars. Look here, Jeff -Hackberry, you must make that wife o' yourn keep quiet. If she tries to -give another signal we'll tie you up by the thumbs now, besides shoot -you in the mornin'." - -"What kin I do with her?" whined Jeff. - -"Do with her? You kin make her mind. That's your duty. You're the head -o' the fambly." - -"Head o' the fambly?" groaned Jeff, in mournful sarcasm. "Mister, you -don't seem to be acquainted with 'Frony. - -"Head o' the fambly," sneered his wife. "He aint the head o' nothin'. -Not the head o' a pin. He haint no more head'n a fishworm." - -"Look here, woman," said Shorty, "didn't you promise to love, honor and -obey him?" - -"No, I didn't nuther. I said I'd shove, hammer an' belay him. Hit's none -o' yer bizniss, nohow, yo' sneakin' Yankee' what I do to him. You hain't -no call t' mix betwixt him an' me. An' my mouth's my own. I'll use hit -jest as I please, in spite o' yo' an' him, an' 40 others like yo'. Hear -that?" - -"Well, you git back into that bed, an' stay there, and don't you dare -give another signal, or I'll buck-and-gag you on your wedding-night." - -"Don't you dar tetch me," she said menacingly. - -"I aint goin' to tech you. I'm too careful what I242 touch. But I'll tie -you to that bed and gag you, if you don't do as I say. Get back into bed -at once." - -"I ain't gwine t', and yo' can't make me," she said defiantly. - -"Take hold of her, Jeff," said Shorty, pulling out his bayonet and -giving that worthy a little prod. - -Jeff hesitated until Shorty gave him a more earnest prod, when he -advanced toward his wife, but, as he attempted to lay his hands on her -shoulders, she caught him, gave him a quick twist and a trip, and down -he went; but he had clutched her to save himself from falling, and -brought her down with him. Shorty caught her elbows and called to Si to -bring him a piece of cord, with which he tied her arms. Another piece -bound her ankles. She lay on the floor and railed with all the vehemence -of her vicious tongue. - -"Pick her up and lay her on the bed there," Shorty ordered Jeff. Jeff -found some difficulty in lifting the tall, bony frame, but Shorty gave -him a little help with the ponderous but agile feet, and the woman was -finally gotten on the bed. - -"Now, we'll gag you next, if you make any more trouble," threatened -Shorty. "We don't allow no woman to interfere with military operations." - -They had scarcely finished this when the dogs began barking again, and -Si and Shorty hurried out. The operations in the house had rather heated -them, the evening was warm, and Shorty had taken off his blouse and -drawn it up inside of his belt, in the rear. - -The noise of the dogs betokened the approach of something more than -usual visitors. Through the clamor the boys' quick ears could detect the -clatter243 of an ominous number of hoofs. The other boys heard it, too, -and were standing around, gun in hand, waiting developments. - -"Hullo, dere, de house!" came in a voice Si and Shorty dimly recognized -having heard somewhere before. - -"Hullo, yourself," answered Shorty. "Who air yo?"243 - -"I'm Capt. Littles," came back above the noise of barking. "Call off -your togs. I'm all righdt. Is it all right up dere?" - -"Yes. Lay down. Watch! Git out, Tige!" Shorty started to answer, when he -was interrupted by the apparition of Mrs. Bolster-Hackberry flying out -of the door, and yelling at the top of her voice: - -"No, hit ain't all right at all. Captain. The Yankees 've got us. Thar's -a right smart passel o' 'em here, with we'uns prisoners. Jump 'em, if -you' kin. If yo' can't, skeet out an' git enough t' down 'em an' git us -out." - -Si and Shorty recognized that the time for words was passed. They -snatched up their guns and fired in the direction of the hail. The other -boys did the same. There was a patter of replying shots, aimed at the -fire around which they had been standing, but had moved away from. - -Apparently, Capt. Littles thought the Yankees were in too great force -for him to attack, for his horses could be heard moving away. The boys -followed them with shots aimed at the sound. Si and Shorty ran down -forward a little ways, hoping to get a better sight. The rebels halted, -apparently244 dis mounted, got behind a fence and began firing back at -intervals. - -Si and Shorty fired from the point they had gained, and drew upon -themselves quite a storm of shots. - -"Things look bad," said Si to Shorty. "They've halted there to hold us -while they send for reinforcements. We'd better go back to the boys and -get things in shape. Mebbe we'd better send back to camp for help." - -"We'll wait till we find out more about 'em," said Shorty, as they moved -back. They had to cross the road, upon the white surface of which they -stood out in bold contrast and drew some shots which came uncomfortably -close. - -The other boys, after a severe struggle, had caught Mrs. Bolster- -Hackberry and put her back in the cabin. After a brief consultation, it -was decided to hold their ground until daylight. They could get into the -cabin, and by using it as a fortification, stand off a big crowd of -enemies. The rest of the boys were sent inside to punch out loop-holes -between the logs, and make the place as defensible as possible. Si and -Shorty were to stay outside and observe. - -"I've got an idee how to fix that old woman," said Shorty suddenly. - -"Buck-and-gag her?" inquired Si. - -"No; we'll go in there and chuck her down that hole where she kept her -whisky, and fasten the hasp in the staple." - -"Good idee, if the hole will hold her." - -"It's got to hold her. We can't have her245 rampaging round during the -fight. I'd rather have a whole company o' rebels on my back." - -They did not waste any words with the old woman, but despite her yells -and protests Si took hold of one shoulder Shorty the other, and forced -her down in the pit and closed the puncheon above her. - -They went out again to reconnoiter. The enemy was quiet, apparently -waiting. Only one shot, fired in the direction of the fire, showed that -they were still there. - -Shorty suddenly bethought him of his blouse, in the pocket of which was -the precious letter. He felt for it. It was gone. He was stunned. - -"I remember, now," he said to himself, "it was working out as I ran, and -it slipped down as I climbed the fence." - -He said aloud: - -"Si, I've lost my blouse. I dropped it down there jest before we crossed -the road. I'm goin' to get it." - -"Blast the blouse," said Si; "let it be till mornin'. You need something -worse'n a blouse to-night. You'll ketch a bullet sure's you're alive if -you try to go acrost that road agin. They rake it." - -"I don't care if they do," said Shorty desperately. "I'd go down there -if a battery raked it. There's a letter in the pocket that I must have." - -Si instinctively felt for the letter in his own pocket. "Very well," he -said, "if you feel as if you must go I'll go along." - -"No, you sha'n't. You stay here in command; it's your duty. You can't -help if you do go. I'll go alone. I'll tell you what you might do, -though. You might go over there to the left and fire on 'em, as if246 we -wuz feelin' around that way. That'll draw some o' their attention." - -Si did as suggested. - -Shorty crept back to the point they had before occupied. The rebels saw -him coming over a httle knoll, and fired at him. He ran for the fence. -He looked over at the road, and thought he saw the blouse lying in the -ditch on the opposite side. He sprang over the fence and ran across the -road. The rebels had anticipated this and sent a volley into the road. -One bullet struck a small stone, which flew up and smote Shorty's cheek -so sharply that he reeled. But he went on across, picked up the blouse, -found the dear letter, and deliberately stopped in the road until he -transferred it to the breast of his shirt. Then he sprang back over the -fence, and stopped there a moment to rest. He could hear the rebel -Captain talking to his men, and every moment the accents of the voice -became more familiar. - -"Don't vaste your shods," he was saying. "Don'd vire undil you sees -somedings to shood ad, unt den vire to hid. See how many shods you haf -alretty vired mitout doing no goot. You must dink dat ammunition's as -blenty as vater in de Southern Confederacy. If you hat as much druble as -I haf to ket cartridges you vould pe more garcful of dem." - -Capt. Littles was Rosenbaum, the Jew spy, masquerading in a new role. -Shorty's heart leaped. Instantly he thought of a way to let Rosenbaum -know whom he had run up against. - -"Corporal Si Klogg!" he called out in his loudest tones. - -"What is it, Shorty?" answered the wondering Si.247 - -"Don't let any more o' the boys shoot over there to the left. That's the -way Capt. McGillicuddy's a-comin' in with Co. Q. I think I kin see him -now jest raisin' the hill. Yes, I'm sure it's him." - -The next instant he heard the rebel Captain saying to his men: - -"Boys, dey're goming up in our rear. Dey're de men ve saw a liddle vhile -ago. De only vay is to mount unt make a rush past de house. All mount -unt vollow me as vast as dey gan." - -There was a gallop of horsemen up the road, and they passed by like the -wind, while Si and Shorty fired as fast as they could load—Shorty over -their heads. Si at the noise. Just opposite the house the Captain's -horse stumbled, and his rider went over his head into a bank of weeds. -The rest swept on, not heeding the mishap. - -"Surrender, Levi," said Shorty, running up. - -"Certainly, my tear poy," said Rosenbaum. "Anyding dat you vant. How are -you, any vay? Say, dat vas a nead drick, vasn't it? Haf your horse -sdumble unt trow you jest ad de righd dime unt place? It dook me a long -dime to deach my horse dot. I'm mighty glat to see you." - -248 - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. THE JEW SPY AGAIN MR. ROSENBAUM RECITES A THRILLING -EXPERIENCE. - -"HIST, boys, don't talk friendly to me out loud," said the prudent -Rosenbaum. "What's happened? I know you have got the house. I have been -expecting for a long time that there would be a raid made upon it. What -the devil is that saying you have: 'It's a long worm that don't have a -turn.' No; that isn't it. 'It's an ill lane that blows nobody no good.' -No; that's not it, neither. Well, anyway, Mrs. Sophronia unt her crowd -got entirely too bold. They played too open, unt I knew they'd soon get -ketched. Who did you get in the house?" - -Si started to call over the names, and to recite the circumstances, but -as he reached that of Brad Tingle, Rosenbaum clutched him by the arm and -said earnestly: - -"Hold on. Tell me the rest after a while. I'm afraid of that man. He's -come pretty near getting on to me several times already. He's listening -now, unt he'll be sure to suspect something if he don't hear you -treating me as you did the others. Begin swearing at me as you did at -the rest." - -Si instantly took the hint. - -"I'll stand no more foolishness," he called out249 angrily. "If you -don't surrender at once I'll blow your rebel head off." - -"I have to give up," Rosenbaum replied in an accent of pain, "for I -believe I broke my leg when I fell. I find I can't stand up." - -"Give up your arms, then, and we'll help you up to the fire, and see how -badly you're hurt," said Si. - -Rosenbaum gave groans of anguish as Si and Shorty picked him up and -carried him over to the fire. - -"Now we're out of ear-shot o' the house," said Si, as they deposited him -on the opposite side, and somewhat behind a thicket of raspberries, "and -we can talk. Where did you come from this time, Levi?" - -"Straight from General Bragg's Headquarters at Tullahoma, and I have got -information that will make General Rosecrans's heart jump for joy. I -have got the news he has been waiting for all these weeks to move his -army. I have got the number of Bragg's men, just where they are -stationed, and how many is at each place. I'm crazy to get to General -Rosecrans with the news. I have been cavorting around the country all -day trying some way to get in, unt at my wits' ent, for some of the men -with me had their suspicions of me, unt wouldn't have hesitated to shoot -me, if they didn't like the way I was acting. To tell the truth, it's -been getting pretty hot for me over there in the rebel lines. Too many -men have seen me in Yankee camps. This man. Brad Tingle, has seen me -twice at General Rosecrans's Headquarters, unt has told a lot of stories -that made much trouble. I think that this is the last250 visit I'll pay -General Bragg. I'm fond of visiting, but it rather discourages me to be -so that I can't look at a limb running out from a tree without thinking -that it may be where they will hang me." - -"Excuse me from any such visitin'," said Si sympathetically. "I'd much -rather stay at home. I've had 12 or 15 hours inside the enemy's lines, -playin' off deserter, and I've had enough to last me my three years. -I'll take any day o' the battle o' Stone River in preference. I ain't -built for the spy business in any shape or form. I'm plain, out-and-out -Wabash prairie style—everything above ground and in sight." - -"Well, I'm different from you," said Shorty. "I own up that I'm awfully -fond o' a game o' hocuspocus with the rebels, and tryin' to see which -kin thimble-rig the other. It's mighty excitin' gamblin' when your own -head's the stake, an' beats poker an' faro all holler. But I want the -women ruled out o' the game. Never saw a game yit that a woman wouldn't -spile if she got her finger in." - -"Mrs. Bolster came mighty near marrying him, and he's pale yet from the -scare," Si explained. - -"Yes," said Shorty frankly. "You'll see I'm still while all around the -gills. Never wuz so rattled in my life. That woman's a witch. You could -only kill her by shooting her with a silver bullet. She put a spell on -me, sure's you're a foot high. Lord, wouldn't I like to be able to -manage her. I'd set her up with a faro-bank or a sweat-board, and she'd -win all the money in the army in a month." - -"Yes, she's a terror," accorded Rosenbaum. "She251 made up her mind to -marry me when I first come down here. I was awfully scared, for I was -sure she saw through me sharper than the men did, and would marry me or -expose me. But I got some points on her about poisoning a neighboring -woman that she hated unt was jealous of, unt then I played an immediate -order from General Bragg to me to report to his Headquarters. But it -took all the brains I had to keep her off me." - -"She's safe now from marryin' anybody for awhile," said Shorty, and he -related the story of her nuptials, which amused Rosenbaum greatly. - -"But you have signed Jeff Hackberry's death warrant," he said. "If he -tries to live with her she'll feed him wild parsnip, unt he'll get a -house of red clay, that you put the roof on with a shovel. It'll be no -great loss. Jeff ain't worth in a year the bread he'll eat in a day." - -"She may be smothered in that hole," Shorty bethought himself. "I guess -we'd better let her out for awhile." - -"Yes," said Rosenbaum. "She can't do no harm now. Nobody else will come -this way to-night. The men that were with me will scatter the news that -the house is in Yankee hands. They think there's a big force here, unt -so we won't be disturbed till morning." - -"Then I'll go in and let her out," said Shorty. - -The other inmates of the cabin were asleep when he entered, but they -waked up, and begged him not to let the woman out until morning. - -"Keep her in there till daylight," said 'Squire Corson, "and then -restore me to my home and functions,252 and I'll call out a posse -comitatus, and have her publicly ducked, according to the laws of the -land, as a common scold. I've never heard such vile language as she -applied to me when I gave her the advice it was my duty to give to live -in peace and quietness with her husband. That there woman's a Niagary of -cuss words and abuse." - -"If yo' let her out, take me outside with yo'," begged Jeff Hackberry. -"She'll kill me, sho', if I've to stay in here till mornin' with her. -She begun by flingin' a bag o' red pepper in my face, and set us all to -sneezin' until I thought the 'Squire'd sneeze his durned head off. Then -she jobbed me with a bayonet, and acted as no woman orter act toward her -lawful husband, no matter how long they'd bin married, let alone their -weddin' night." - -"Sorry, but it's agin all my principles to separate man and wife," said -Shorty, as he moved to the puncheon trap-door and undid the hasp. "You -took her for better or worse, and it's too early in the game to complain -that you found her a blamed sight worse than you took her for. You're -one now, you know, and must stay that way until death do you part." - -Shorty lifted up the trap-door, and Si helped the woman out with some -difficulty. They expected a torrent of abuse, but she seemed limp and -silent, and sank down on the floor. The boys picked her up and laid her -on the bed beside Jeff Hackberry. "She's fainted; she's dead. She's bin -sufferkated in that hole," said Jeff. - -"No, yo' punkin-headed fool," she gasped. "I hain't dead, nor I hain't -fainted, nor I hain't253 sufferkated. Yo'll find out when I git my wind -back a little, I'm so full o' mad an' spite that I'm done tuckered clean -out. I'm clean beat, so clean beat that I hain't no words to fit the -'casion. I've got t' lay still an' think an' gether up some." - -"She's comin' to, Shorty," said Si. "It'll be pleasanter outside." - -"You say you have been having unusually exciting times," said Si to -Rosenbaum, as the boys again seated themselves by the fire. - -"Veil, I should say so," replied Rosenbaum with emphasis. "Do you know -that General Bragg is the very worst man that ever lived?" - -"All rebels are bad," said Shorty oracularly. "But I suppose that some -are much worse than others. I know that the private soldiers are awful, -and I suppose the higher you go the wuss they are. The Corporals are -cussider than the privates, the Sergeants can give the Corporals points -in devilishness, and so it goes on up until the General commanding an -army must be one of the devil's favorite imps, while Jeff Davis is Old -Horney's junior partner." - -"No; it isn't that," said Rosenbaum. "I've known a good many rebel -Generals, unt some of them ain't really bad fellers, outside of their -rebelness. But old Bragg is a born devil. He has no more heart than a -rattlesnake. He actually loves cruelty. He'd rather kill men than not. -I've seen plenty of officers who were entirely too willing to shoot men -for little or nothing. General Bragg is the only man I ever saw who -would shoot men for nothing at all—just 'for example,' as he says, unt -to make the others254 afraid unt ready to obey him. He coolly calculates -to shoot so many every month. If they've done anything to deserve it, -all right. If they hain't, he shoots them all the same, just to -'preserve discipline.'" - -Si and Shorty uttered exclamations of surprise at this cold-blooded -cruelty. - -"I know it's hard to believe," said Rosenbaum, "but it's true all the -same, as anybody around his Headquarters will tell you. Jeff Davis knows -it unt approves it. He is the same kind of a man as General Bragg—no -more heart than a tiger, I have seen a good deal of the inside of the -rebel army, unt General Bragg is the coldest-blooded, cruelest man in it -or in the whole world. It's true that the men he orders shot are -generally of no account, like our man Jeff Hackberry—but it's the -principle of the thing that shocks me. He just takes a dislike to the -way a man looks or acts, or the way he parts his hair, looks at him with -his steely-gray eyes, unt says coldly: 'Put him in the bull-pen.' In the -bullpen the poor devil goes, unt the next time General Bragg gets an -idea that the discipline of the army is running down, unt he must -stiffen it up with a few executions, he orders all the men that happen -to be in the bull-pen taken out unt shot." - -"Without any trial, any court-martial, any evidence against them?" -gasped Si. - -"Absolutely without anything but General Bragg's orders. It is like you -read of in the books about those Eastern countries where the Sultan or -other High-muk-a-muk says, 'Cut that man's head off,' unt the man's head -is cut off, unt no questions asked.255 unt no funeral ceremonies except -washing up the blood." - -"Lucky for you, Levi," said Shorty, "that he didn't have any of the -common prejudices against Jews, and slap you in the bull-pen." - -"O, but he did," said Rosenbaum. "He hated a Jew worse than any man I -ever met. Unt it brought me so near death that I actually watched them -digging my grave. - -"While I had my ups unt downs, unt some very narrow escapes," continued -Rosenbaum, "when I first went inside Bragg's lines, I got along very -well generally. I played the peddler unt smuggler for the Southern -Confederacy in great shape, unt run them through a lot of gun-caps, -quinine, medicines, unt so so on, unt brought in a great deal of -information which they found to be true. Some of dis General Rosecrans -gave me himself, for he is smart enough to know that if he wants his -Secret Service men to succeed he must give them straight goods to carry -to the enemy. - -"I brought in exact statements of what divisions, brigades unt regiments -were at this place unt that place, how many men was in them, who their -commanders were, unt so on. General Rosecrans would have these given me. -It helped him in his plans to know just what information was reaching -the enemy, for he knew just how old Bragg would act when he had certain -knowledge. If he knew that Sheridan with 6,000 men was at this place, -with Tom Wood 10 miles away with 6,000 more, he would do a certain -thing, unt Rosecrans would provide for it. The news that I brought in -the rebels could test by256 the reports they got from others, unt they -always found mine correct. - -"My work pleased the rebel Generals so well that they made me a Captain -in their army, transferred me from Brigade Headquarters to Division, unt -then to Corps Headquarters. I was given command of squads of scouts. I -can draw very well, unt I made good maps of the country unt the roads, -with the positions of Yankee unt rebel forces. This was something that -the other rebel spies could not do, unt it helped me lots. I was careful -to make copies of all these maps, unt they got to General Rosecrans's -Headquarters. - -"The other rebel spies got very jealous of me because I was promoted -over them, unt they laid all sorts of plans to trip me up. They came -awful near catching me several times, but I was too smart for them, unt -could outwit them whenever I got a pointer as to what they were up to. -Once they watched me go to a hollow sycamore tree, which I used as a -postoffice for Jim Jones to get the things I wanted to send to General -Rosecrans. They found there maps I had made at Shelbyville, with the -positions of the rebel un Yankee forces unt the fortifications all -shown. - -"That was an awful close call, unt I could feel the rope tightening -around my neck. But I kept my nerve, unt told a straight story. I said -that that tree was my regular office where I kept lots of things that I -was afraid to carry around with me when I was in danger of falling into -the Yankee hands, as I was every day when I was scouting. Luckily for me -I had some other private things unt a lot of257 Confederate money hid -there, too, which I showed them. They didn't more than half believe my -story, but they led me off, probably because they needed me so bad. - -"I saw that the thing was only skimmed over, unt was ready to break out -again any minute worse than ever, unt I kept my eyes peeled all the -time. That's one reason why you have not seen me for so long. I didn't -dare send General Rosecrans anything or go near outside the rebel lines. -I had to play very good, but I kept gathering up information for the day -when I should make a final break unt leave the rebels for good. - -"A week ago I was ordered to go up to General Bragg's Headquarters to -help them with their maps unt reports. They had nobody there that could -do the work, unt Jeff Davis, who always wants to know everything about -the armies, was bunching them up savagely for full information. He -wanted accurate statements about the Yankee strength unt positions, unt -about the rebel strength unt positions, to see if he couldn't do -something to pull the Yankees off of Pemberton at Vicksburg. Bragg's -Adjutant-General sent word through all the army for to find good rapid -penmen unt map-makers, unt I was sent up. - -"The Adjutant-General set me to work under a fly near Headquarters, unt -he was tickled almost to death with the way I did my work. Old Bragg -himself used to walk up unt down near, growling unt cussing unt swearing -at everything unt everybody. Once or twice the Adjutant-General called -his attention to my work. Old Bragg just looked it over, grunted, unt -bored me through unt through with258 those sharp, cold, gray eyes of -his. But I thought I was safe so long as I was at Headquarters, unt I -gave a great stiff to other Secret Service men who had been trying to -down me. - -Old Bragg Used to Walk up Unt Down, Growling Unt Cussing. 259 - -"One morning old Bragg was in an awful temper—the worst I had ever seen. -Every word unt order was a cruelty to somebody. Finally, up comes this -Brad Tingle that you have inside. He is a sort of a half-spy—not brains -enough to be a real one, but with a good deal of courage unt activity to -do small work. He had been sent by General Cheatham to carry some papers -unt make a report. Whatever it was, it put old Bragg in a worse temper -than ever. Brad Tingle happened to catch sight of me, unt he said in a -surprised way: - -"'Why, there's that Jew I saw sitting in General Rosecrans's tent -talking to him, when I was playing off refugee Tennesseean in the Yankee -camps.' - -"'What's that? What's that, my man?' said old Bragg, who happened to -overhear him. - -"Brad Tingle told all he knew about me. Old Bragg turned toward me unt -give me such a look. I could feel those cold, cruel eyes boring straight -through me. - -"'Certainly he is a Jew, unt one of old Rosecrans's best spies,' he -said. 'Old Rosecrans is a Jew, a Dutch Jew, himself. I knowed him well -in the old army. He's got a regular Jew face. He plays off Catholic, but -that is to hide his Jewishness. He can't do it. That hook nose'd give -him away if nothing else did, unt he has got enough else. He likes to -have Jews about him, because he understands them better than he does -white people, unt259 particularly he is fond of Jew spies. He can trust -them where nobody else can. They'll be true to him because he is a Jew. -Put that man in the bull-pen, unt shoot him with the rest to-morrow -morning.' "'Heavens,' gasped the Adjutant-General; 'he is260 by far the -best man I ever had. I can't get along without him.' - -"'You must get along without him,' said old Bragg. 'I'm astonished at -you having such a man around. Where in the world did you pick him up? -But it's just like you. How in God's name Jeff Davis expects me to -command an army with such makeshifts of staff officers as he sends me, I -don't know. He keeps the best for old Lee unt sends me what nobody -else'll have, unt then expects me to win battles against a better army -than the Army of the Potomac. I never got a staff officer that had -brains once.' - -"A Sergeant of the Provost Guard, who was a natural beast, unt was kept -by old Bragg because he was glad to carry out orders to murder men, -caught hold of me by my shoulder unt run me down to the bull-pen, -leaving the Adjutant-General with forty expressions on his angry face. - -"My goodness, my heart sunk worse than ever before when I heard the door -shut behind me. There were 30 or 40 others in the bull-pen. They were -all lying around—dull, stupid, sullen, silent, unt hopeless. They hardly -paid any attention to me. I sat down on a log, unt my heart seemed to -sink clear out of me. For the first time in my life I couldn't see the -slightest ray of hope. Through the cracks in the bull-pen I could see -the fresh graves of the men who had already been shot, unt while I -looked I saw a squad of niggers come out unt begin digging the graves of -those who were to be shot to-morrow. I could see rebel soldiers unt -officers passing by, stop unt look a moment at the graves, shrug -their261 shoulders, unt go on. It froze my blood to think that tomorrow -they would be looking at my grave that way. After a while a man came in -unt gave each one of us a piece of cornbread unt meat. The others ate -theirs greedily, but I could not touch it. Night came on, unt still I -sat there. Suddenly the door opened, unt the Adjutant-General came in -with a man about my size and dressed something like me. As he passed he -caught hold of my arm in a sort of way that made me understand to get up -unt follow behind him, I did so at once without saying a word. I walked -behind him around the bull-pen until we came back to the door, when the -guard presented arms, unt he walked out, with me still behind him, -leaving the other man inside. After we had gone a little way he stopped -unt whispered to me: - -"'The General had to go off in a hurry toward War Trace this afternoon. -He took the Provost-Sergeant unt part of his staff with him, but I had -to be left behind to finish up this work. I can't get anybody else to do -it but you. I'm going to take you over to a cabin, where you'll be out -of sight. I want you to rush that work through as fast as the Lord'll -let you. After you get it done you can go where you damned please, so -long as you don't let the General set eyes on you. I've saved your life, -unt I'm going to trust to your honor to play fair with me. Help me out, -do your work right, unt then never let me see you again.' - -"Of course, I played fair. I asked no questions, you bet, about the poor -devil he had put in my place. I worked all that night unt all the next -day getting his papers in the best possible shape, unt in making262 -copies of them for General Rosecrans, which I stuck behind the chimney -in the cabin. Along in the morning I heard the drums beating as the men -were marched out to witness the execution. It made my heart thump a -little, but I kept on scratching away with my pen for hfe unt death. -Then the drums stopped beating for a while, unt then they begun again. -Then I heard a volley that made me shiver all over. Then the drums beat -as the men were marched back to their camps. If I had had time to think -I should have fainted. Towards evening I had got everything in first- -class shape. The Adjutant-General came in. He looked over the papers in -a very satisfied way, folded them up, checked off from a list a -memorandum of the papers he had given me to copy unt compile, unt saw -that I had given them all back to him. Then he looked me straight in the -eye unt said: - -"'Now, Jew, there's no use of my saying anything to you. You heard that -volley this morning, unt understood it. Never let me or the General lay -eyes on you again. You have done your part all right, unt I mine. Good- -by.' - -"He took his papers unt walked out of the cabin. As soon as he was gone -I snatched the copies that I had hidden behind the chimney, stuck them -here unt there in my clothes, unt started for the outer lines. - -"I made my way to a house where I knew I'd find some men who had scouted -with me before. I knew they might be suspicious of me, but I could get -them to go along by pretending to have orders from Headquarters for a -scout. I got to the house by morning, found some of them there, gathered -up some more263 unt have been riding around all day, looking at the -Yankee lines, unt trying to find some way to get inside. I'm nearly dead -for sleep, but I must have these papers in General Rosecrans's hands -before I close my eyes." - -"Your horse is all right, isn't he?" asked Shorty. - -"Yes, I think so," answered Rosenbaum. - -"Well, we have a good horse here. I'll mount him and go with you to -camp, leaving Si and the rest of the boys here. I can get back to them -by daylight." - -So it was agreed upon. - -Day was just breaking when Shorty came galloping back. - -"Turn out, boys!" he shouted. "Pack up, and start back for camp as quick -as you kin. The whole army's on the move." - -"What's happened, Shorty?" inquired Si, as they all roused themselves -and gathered around. - -"Well," answered Shorty, rather swelling with the importance of that -which he had to communicate, "all I know is that we got into camp a -little after midnight, and went direct to Gen. Rosecrans's Headquarters. -Of course, the old man was up; I don't believe that old hook-nosed -duffer ever sleeps. He was awful glad to see Rosenbaum, and gave us both -great big horns o' whisky, which Rosenbaum certainly needed, if I -didn't, for he was dead tired, and almost flopped down after he handed -his papers to the General. But the General wanted him to stay awake, and -kept plying him with whisky whenever he would begin to sink, and, my -goodness, the questions he did put at that poor Jew.264 - -"I thought we knowed something o' the country out here around us, but, -Jerusalem, all that we know wouldn't make a primer to Rosecrans's Fifth -Reader. How were the bridges on this road? Where did that road lead to? -How deep was the water in this creek? How many rebels were out there? -Where was Bragg's cavalry? Where's his reserve artillery? And so on, -until I thought he'd run a seine through every water-hole in that Jew's -mind and dragged out the last minner in it. I never heard the sharpest -lawyer put a man through such a cross-examination. - -"Rosenbaum was equal to everything asked him, but it seemed to me that -Gen. Rosecrans knowed a great deal more about what was inside the rebel -lines than Rosenbaum did. All this time they was goin' over the papers -that Rosenbaum brung, and Old Rosey seemed tickled to death to git 'em. -He told Rosenbaum he'd done the greatest day's work o' his life and made -his fortune. - -"In the meantime the whole staff had waked up and gathered in the tents, -and while the General was pumpin' Rosenbaum he was sending orders to -this General and that General, and stirrin' things up from Dan to -Beersheba. Lord, you ought t've seen that army wake up. I wouldn't 've -missed it for a farm. Everything is on the move—right on the jump. We're -goin' for old Bragg for every cent we're worth, and we want to git back -to the regiment as quick as our leg'll carry us. Hustle around, now." - -"But what'er we goin' to do with our prisoners?" asked Si. - -"Blast the prisoners!" answered Shorty with profane emphasis. "Let 'em -go to blue blazes, for all265 that we care. We're after bigger game than -a handful o' measly pennyroyal sang-diggers. We hain't no time to fool -with polecats when we're huntin' bears. Go off and leave 'em here." - -"That's all right," said Si, to whom an idea occurred. "Hustle around, -boys, but don't make no noise. We'll march off so quietly that they -won't know that we're gone, and it'll be lots o' fun thinking what -they'll do when they wake up and begin clapper-clawin' one another and -wonderin' what their fate'll be." - -END BOOK THREE - - - - - - - - - -SI KLEGG EXPERIENCES OF SI AND SHORTY ON THE GREAT TULLAHOMA CAMPAIGN. - - - -By John McElroy - - - -Book Four - - - -Published By - -The National Tribune Co., - -Washington, D. C. - -Second Edition - -Copyright 1910 - - - - - -THE SIX VOLUMES SI KLEGG, Book I, Transformation From a Raw Recruit SI -KLEGG, Book II, Through the Stone River Campaign SI KLEGG, Book III, -Meets Mr. Rosenbaum, the Spy SI KLEGG, Book IV, On The Great Tullahoma -Campaign SI KLEGG, Book V, Deacon's Adventures At Chattanooga SI KLEGG, -Book VI, Enter On The Atlanta Campaign - - - - - - -'don't Call Me Your Gran'pap.' 37 - - -frontispiece (95K) - - - -titlepage (45K) - - - - - - -CONTENTS - - -PREFACE - -SI KLEGG - -CHAPTER I. THE TULLAHOMA CAMPAIGN ON TO DUCK RIVER - -CHAPTER II. THE BALKY MULES - -CHAPTER III. THIRD DAY OF THE DELUGE - -CHAPTER IV. THE FOURTH DAY OF THE TULLAHOMA CAMPAIGN - -CHAPTER V. AFLOAT ON A LOG - -CHAPTER VI. DISTRESSING ENEMIES - -CHAPTER VII. THE EXCITING ADVANCE TULLAHOMA - -CHAPTER VIII. THE GLORIOUS FOURTH INDEPENDENCE DAY FUN - -CHAPTER IX. A LITTLE EPISODE OVER LOVE LETTERS - -CHAPTER X. AFTER BRAGG AGAIN - -CHAPTER XI. THE MOUNTAIN FOLK - -CHAPTER XII. SI AND SHORTY IN LUCK - -CHAPTER XIII. MANY HAPPY EVENTS - -CHAPTER XIV. THE FRISKY YOUNGSTERS - -CHAPTER XV. KEYED UP FOR ACTION - -CHAPTER XVI. THE TERRIFIC STRUGGLE - -CHAPTER XVII. IN THE HOSPITAL - -CHAPTER XVIII. A DISTURBING MESSAGE - -CHAPTER XIX. TEDIOUS CONVALESCENCE - -CHAPTER XX. STEWED CHICKEN - - - - - -List of Illustrations - -During the Halt for Dinner. 20 - -'Don't Call Me Your Gran'pap.' 35 - -Here Goes, Mebbe to Libbey Prison. 55 - -I'm All on Fire 77 - -Si and Shorty Were the First to Mount The Parapet. 91 - -The Bluff Worked 107 - -She Ran Like a Deer, But si Cut Her off 123 - -You Must'nt Kill a Wounded Man 143 - -"Father, There's a Couple of Soldiers out There." 159 - -The First Wad Came out Easily and All Right. 165 - -'Annabel, How Purty You Look.' 173 - -The Recruits Lined up on the Platform. 186 - -They Posted the Men Behind The Trees. 197 - -They Had a Delirious Remembrance of the Mad Whirl. 211 - -The Dead Being Collected After the Battle. 220 - -"Pap, is That You?" Said a Weak Voice. 238 - -"He Took Another Look at his Heavy Revolver." 254 - -"If You Don't Skip out O' Here This Minute I'll Bust Your Head As I -Would a Punkin." 264 - - - - - - - - - -PREFACE - -"Si Klegg, of the 200th Ind., and Shorty, his Partner," were born years -ago in the brain of John McElroy, Editor of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE. - -These sketches are the original ones published in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, -revised and enlarged some what by the author. How true they are to -nature every veteran can abundantly testify from his own service. -Really, only the name of the regiment was invented. There is no doubt -that there were several men of the name of Josiah Klegg in the Union -Army, and who did valiant service for the Govern ment. They had -experiences akin to, if not identical with, those narrated here, and -substantially every man who faithfully and bravely carried a musket in -defense of the best Government on earth had some times, if not often, -experiences of which those of Si Klegg are a strong reminder. - -THE PUBLISHERS. - - - -THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE RANK AND FILE OF THE GRANDEST -ARMY EVER MUSTERED FOR WAR. - - - -SI KLEGG - - - - - -CHAPTER I. THE TULLAHOMA CAMPAIGN ON TO DUCK RIVER "ONLY 25 MILES TO -SHELBYVILLE." - -JUNE 23, 1863, ended the Army of the Cumberland's six months of -wearisome inaction around Murfreesboro its half-year of tiresome fort- -building, drilling, picketing and scouting. - -Then its 60,000 eager, impatient men swept forward in combinations of -masterful strategy, and in a brief, wonderfully brilliant campaign of -nine days of drenching rain drove Bragg out of his strong fortifications -in the rugged hills of Duck River, and compelled him to seek refuge in -the fastnesses of the Cumberland Mountains, beyond the Tennessee River. - -"Now," said Shorty, as they stood in line, waiting the order to move, -"as Old Rosy has clearly waked up to business, I hope to gracious that -Mr. Bragg will be found at home ready for callers. We've wasted six -months waiting for him to get good and ready, and he certainly ought to -be in trim to transact any little business we may have with him." - -"I think you needn't trouble yourself about that, Shorty," said Capt. -McGillicuddy. "All the news is that Bragg is down there in Shelbyville -in force, and with blood in his eye. Somebody is going to be terribly -whipped before the end of the week, and I'm pretty sure it won't be the -Army of the Cumberland." - -"Well, let's have it over and done with," said Si. "It's got to be -fought out some time, and the sooner the better. I wish the whole thing -could be fought to a finish to-morrow. Then I'd know at once whether I'm -to live through this war." - -"I don't think you'll be kept long in suspense," replied Capt. -McGillicuddy. "Shelbyville is only 25 miles away. We can't go forward -many hours with out forcing a collision as to the right of way. If we -can whip Bragg behind the works he has been building for the last six -months, we'll settle the whole business for the Southern Confederacy in -the West. Grant will take Vicksburg, and then we'll have peace." - -"Only 25 miles," repeated Shorty. "We ought to be squarely up against -them not later than to-morrow night and one or two days' lively pounding -ought to make Mr. Bragg holler enough." - -"Rosenbaum is as certain as he is of his life," said Si to the Captain -and the rest, "that Bragg has the bulk of his army at Shelbyville, -which, as you say, is but 25 miles from here, and that he will draw the -rest in and fight us behind the awfully big forts that he has been -building for the last six months from Shelbyville to War Trace. -Rosenbaum says that he knows it for a fact that 3,000 negroes have been -worked on the forts ever since Bragg retreated there last January." - -"Well, 25 miles isn't far to go for a fight," returned Shorty. "All that -I ask is that the 200th Ind. be given the advance. We'll make schedule -time to ward Shelbyville, and bring on the fight before early candle- -lightin' to-morrow evening." - -"I guess you'll have your wish, Shorty," returned Capt. McGillicuddy. -"We lead the brigade to-day, anyway, and we'll try to keep the lead -clear through." - -Then the rain poured down so violently that all the conversation was -suspended, except more or less profane interjections upon the luck of -the Army of the Cumberland in never failing to bring on a deluge when it -started to march. - -In the midst of this the bugles sounded "For ward!" and the 200th Ind. -swung out on the Shelby ville Pike, and set its face sternly southward. -After it trailed the rest of the brigade, then the ambulances and -wagons, and then the rest of the division. - -At times the rain was actually blinding, but the men plodded on doggedly -and silently. They had ex austed their epithets at the start, and now -settled down to stolid endurance. - -"We've only got to go 25 miles, boys," Si would occasionally say, by way -of encouragement. "This rain can't last forever at this rate. It'll -probably clear up bright just as we reach Shelbyville to-morrow, and -give us sunshine to do our work in." - -But when the column halted briefly at noon, for dinner for the men and -mules, it was raining harder and steadier than ever. It was difficult to -start fires with the soaked rails and chunks, all were wet to the skin, -and rivulets of water ran from them as they stood or walked. The horses -of the officers seemed shrunken and drawn-up, and the mud was getting -deeper every minute. - -"Lucky we had the advance," said the optimistic Si. "We have churned the -roads into a mortar-bed, and them that comes after us will have hard -pullin'. I wonder how many miles we've made of them 25?" - -"I feel that we've already gone full 25," said Shorty. "But Tennessee -miles's made o' injy-rubber, and stretch awfully." - -They were too ill-humored to talk much, but stood around and sipped -their hot coffee and munched sodden crackers and fried pork in silence. -Pork fried in the morning in a half-canteen, and carried for hours in a -dripping haversack, which reduced the crackers to a tasteless mush, is -not an appetizing viand; but the hunger of hard exercise in the open air -makes it "go." - -Again the bugles sounded "Forward," and they plodded on more stolidly -than ever. - -Increasing evidences of the enemy's presence be gan to stimulate them. -Through the sheets of rain they saw a squad of rebel cavalry close to -them. There was much snapping of damp gun-caps on both sides, a few -unavailing shots were actually fired, and they caught glimpses between -the rain-gusts of the rebel horsemen galloping up the muddy road to ward -the rising hills. - -They pushed forward with more spirit now. They came to insignificant -brooks which were now raging torrents, through which they waded waist -deep, first placing their treasured ammunition on their shoulders or -heads. - -As they were crossing one of these, Si unluckily stepped into a deep -hole, which took him in over his head. His foot struck a stone, which -rolled, and down he went. Shorty saw him disappear, made a frantic -clutch for him, and went down himself. For a brief tumultuous instant -they bobbed around against the legs of the other boys, who went down -like tenpins. Nearly the whole of Co. Q was at once floundering in the -muddy torrent, with the Captain, who had succeeded in crossing, looking -back in dis may at the disaster. The Orderly-Sergeant and a few others -at the head of the company rushed in and pulled out by the collars such -of the boys as they could grab. Si and Shorty came to the bank a little -ways down, blowing and sputtering, and both very angry. - -During the Halt for Dinner. 19 - -"All your infernal clumsiness," shouted Shorty. "You never will look -where you're goin'. No more sense than a blind hoss." - -"Shut up," said Si, wrathfully. "Don't you talk about clumsiness. It was -them splay feet o' your'n that tripped me, and then you downed the rest -o' the boys. Every mite of our grub and ammunition's gone." - -How far the quarrel would have gone cannot be told, for at that instant -a regiment of rebels, which had been pushed out in advance, tried to -open a fire upon the 200th Ind. from behind a rail fence at the bottom -of the hill. Only enough of their wet guns could be gotten off to -announce their presence. The Colonel of the 200th Ind. yelled: - -"Companies left into line!" - -The soggy men promptly swung around. - -"Fix bayonets! Forward, double-quick!" shouted the Colonel. - -It was a sorry "double-quick," through the pelting rain, the entangling -weeds and briars, and over the rushing streams which flooded the field, -but it was enough to discourage the rebels, who at once went back in a -heavy-footed run to the works on the hill, and the rebel cannon boomed -out to cover their retreat. - -"Lie down!" shouted the Colonel, as they reached the fence, and a shell -struck a little in advance, filling the air with mud and moist fragments -of vegetation. - -As they lay there and recovered their breath there was much splashing -and splattering of mud, much running to and fro, much galloping of Aids -in their rear. The 200th Ind. was ordered to hold its place, and be -ready for a charge upon the hill when it received orders. The brigade's -battery was rushed up to a hill in the rear, and opened a fire on the -rebel guns. The other regiments were deployed to the right and left to -outflank the rebel position. - -Si and Shorty and the rest of Co. Q put in the time trying to get their -guns dry and borrowing ammunition from the men of the other companies. -Both were jobs of difficulty and doubtful success. There could be no -proper drying of guns in that incessant drench, and nobody wanted to -open up his stock of cartridges in such a rain. - -In the intervals between the heavier showers glimpses could be had of -the "Kankakee Suckers" and the "Maumee Muskrats" working their way as -fast as they could around toward the rebel flanks. The rebel artillery, -seeing most danger from them, began throwing shells in their direction -as they could be caught sight of through the rain and the opening in the -trees. - -"Why don't they order us forward with the bayonets?" fretted Si. "We can -scatter them. Their guns ain't in no better shape than ours. If they -hold us here, the Illinoy and Ohio fellers 'll git all the credit." - -"The Colonel's orders are explicit," said the Adjutant, who happened to -be near, "not to move until the head of one of the other regiments can -be seen on the hills to the right or left. Then we're all to go forward -together." - -"Yes," grumbled Shorty, "and we'll jest git there in time to see them -Illinoy Suckers hog everything. You kin see 'em limberin' up and -preparing to git. Just our dumbed luck." - -It turned out just as Shorty had predicted. The rebel commander had kept -a wary eye on the other regiments, and as he saw them gain the point of -vantage in the open, where they could make a rush upon him, he ordered a -quick retreat. The other regiments raised a yell and charged straight -home. By the time the 200th Ind. could reach the gap the other regiments -were in full possession, and the rebels out of musket-shot in the valley -beyond. - -"I told you so," snorted the irate Shorty. "Now we've lost the advance. -To-morrow we'll have to take them other fellers' mud, and pry their -teams out o' the holes." - -"I wonder how many o' them 25 miles toward Shelbyville we've made to- -day?" asked Si. - -"I heard the Adjutant say," said one of his comrades, "that we'd come -just six miles." - -"Jewhillikins," said Shorty sorrowfully. - -Thus ended the first day of the Tullahoma campaign. - - - - - -CHAPTER II. THE BALKY MULES SUGGESTIONS GALORE "SHELBYVILLE ONLY 18 -MILES AWAY." - -NEVER was there so wild a storm but there was a wilder one; never such a -downpour of rain but there could be a greater deluge. - -"Seemed to me yesterday," said Si, on the morning of June 25, as he -vainly tried to peer through the dashing drench and locate some of the -other regiments of the division, "that they was givin' us one of Noah's -Deluge days that they'd happened to have left over. Seemed that it -couldn't be no worse, but this beats it. I don't think that standin' -under Niagara Falls could be no worse. Howsomever, this can't last long. -There ain't water enough in the United States to keep this up a great -while." - -"Don't be so sure o' that," said Shorty, handing Si the end of a -blanket, that he might help wring it out. "I believe the Lord sometimes -thinks that He didn't divide the land and water jest right in the first -place, and that He'd better 've made a big lake o' Tennessee instead o' -these old clay knobs for rebels and niggers to roost on, and He starts -in to carry out that idee. I wish He'd finish the job at once, and turn -the whole blasted region over to the navy. It looks as if He had that in -mind now." - -"Well," said the ever-hopeful Si, "the Bible says that the rain falls on -the just and unjust alike. If it's tough on us, it's jest as tough on -them. Their guns wouldn't go off any better'n ours yesterday. If that -regiment in front of us could've shot like they can on a dry day they'd -'ve made a sick time for us." - -About 60,000 Union soldiers and 45,000 rebels struggled through the -deluges of rain, the torrential streams and fathomless mud those June -days, when it seemed that every water-gate of the heavens was wide open -as it had never been before. - -The calamity that Si and Shorty had foreseen came about. The 200th Ind. -lost the advance of the brigade and brought up the rear, which meant a -long day of muscle-straining, temper-wrecking struggles with stalling -wagons, discouraged mules and stupid teamsters. And as Co. Q was the -left of the regiment, it caught the worst of all. - -The 200th Ind. had scarcely pulled out of camp when its troubles became -acute. At the foot of the hill which had been carried the day before ran -a brook, ordinarily quite a modest stream, but now raging like a mill- -race. The two other regiments of the brigade and all of the 200th Ind. -but Co. Q had managed to get across by means of trees which had been -felled over the stream at various places. Co. Q was left behind to see -that the teams got over, while the rest of the 200th Ind. was halted on -the farther bank, to watch the operation and give help if needed. Si, -with a squad in which was Shorty, was ordered to take the first team, -which it happened Groundhog drove, down into the stream and start it -across. - -"Now, be very careful with that wagon," called the Adjutant across the -stream. "That has the Headquarters' things and papers. Don't let any -water get into the bed. Cross at the shallowest place." - -Si and Shorty found some poles, and prodded around as well as they were -able in the crossing to find the shallowest place. If there was a part -so shallow that the bed could be kept above water it was very narrow, -and would require exceedingly skillful driving to keep on it. The whole -regiment stood around, like a barnyard full of turkeys on a wet day, and -looked on with an air of soppy melancholy. - -"Groundhog," said Si, approaching that function ary, "was you watchin' -carefully while me and Shorty was pickin' out the shallow places?" - -"Naw," answered he, insolently; "wasn't watchin' nothin' but my mules. -Got enough to do takin' keer o' them, without watchin' a couple o' fools -projeckin' around with poles in a mud-hole. No sense in it, nohow. We -never kin git acrost that 'ere tail-race. Only thing to do is to go back -into camp till it quits rainin' and the water runs out." - -"Groundhog," said Si resolutely, "you're not goin' back to camp; you're -not goin' to wait till it stops rainin'. You're goin' right over now, as -sure as my name's Si Klegg, or I'll break every bone in your karkiss." - -"I can't go over," persisted Groundhog. "I ain't no fool. I know better -what kin be done with an army wagon and six mules than any Injianny -galoot that ever wore stripes or shoulder-straps. You simply can't git a -wagon acrost that branch, and I ain't goin' to try." - -"Groundhog," said Shorty, "you've bin itchin' to be killed for at least -a year, that I know of probably as long as you've lived. You ought've -had a stone tied to your neck and bin flung into the crick as soon's you -was born. I've promised myself a good many times that I'd about murder -you when ever I had time, but something's always made me neglect it. I'm -in the killin' mood to-day, and I'd like to begin on you. I certainly -will unless you drive that team straight acrost, and don't git a drop o' -water in the bed o' the wagon." - -"Come, hurry up, over there," shouted the Adjutant. "We can't wait all -day. What's the matter with you? Get a move on you." - -"All right, sir; we'll start at once, sir," said Si with ostentatious -alacrity. - -Shorty slapped his bayonet on, and brought the point very near -Groundhog's abdomen. "I'll jab this thing clean through you in a holy -minute, you pusillanimous basswood cullin'; you pestiferous pile o' -pizen, rotten punk," he said savagely. "Git on your wheel-mule and -gether up the lines." - -Impelled by this, and the vigorous clutch of Si upon his collar, -Groundhog climbed clumsily into the saddle and sullenly brandished his -whip. - -The mules made a start and went down the bank, but at the edge of the -turbid torrent the leaders set their legs as stiffly as if they were the -supports of a sawhorse. They did not make a sound, but somehow the other -four understood, with electric suddenness, and their legs set like -posts. - -"Jest as I expected," said Groundhog, with a grunt of satisfaction; -"they've balked for all day, an' you can't git 'em to move another foot -if you killed 'em. They're as solid as if they'd growed there." - -With an air of having encountered the irresistible, he started to get -out of his saddle. - -"Stay in there, confound you," said Shorty, prodding him with his -bayonet. "Lick them mules. Make 'em start." - -"'Bout as much use in lickin' a white-oak stump," said Groundhog, plying -the whip viciously as a relief to his feelings. "You kin lick every inch -of skin off 'em, and they won't move no more'n a gravestone." - -"Start those mules along. Stop fooling,' said the Adjutant impatiently. - -"We can't start 'em. They're balkin', sir," said Si desperately. - -"Nonsense, nonsense," said the Adjutant. "Come ahead. Don't you see -you're stopping the Second Brigade and all its teams?" - -The men of the Second Brigade were already swarming across on the logs, -while looking backward Si and Shorty could see the road filling up with -teams. They ran down to the lead mules and caught them by the bridles -and tried to pull them ahead. They might as well have pulled at the -giant sycamore trees growing along the banks. - -Everybody now began to take an interest in the affair. It is one of the -delightful peculiarities of human nature that everybody knows better how -to manage a balky horse or mule than the unfortunate man who is trying -to. - -"Stop whippin' them mules. You only make them wuss," shouted one man -authoritatively. "Tie stones to their tails." - -"Tie a string around their ears," shouted another. "That'll be sure to -start 'em." - -"Bite their ears, you fools. Don't you know nothin' about mules? Bite -their ears, I tell you," shouted a man from Indianapolis. - -"Throw some hot water on 'em." - -"Tie their feet and tails together with a string." - -"Build a fire under 'em." - -"Turn the harness around the other way on 'em." - -"Blindfold 'em." - -Then the regimental humorists began to get in their work: - -"Sing 'em the 'Battle Cry o' Freedom.'" - -"They've struck for more grub. Promise 'em double rations till we get to -Shelbyville." - -"Stop swearin', there, you fellers. You've frozen 'em stiff with your -bad language. Pray with 'em." - -"Read them the Emancipation Proclamation." - -"Call 'em pet names. You can do anything with kindness. Even a mule has, -a heart." - -"Bring up the band and serenade 'em." - -Shorty was raging around the team, kicking and striking first at one -mule and then at another, and swearing like a pirate, alternately at the -team and then at the jeering crowds. Si was following suit to the best -of his ability, but his pious education had left him out of sight of -Shorty when it came to using language that the occasion seemed to -justify. He had, however, yanked Groundhog out of the saddle and driven -him up the bank, where he sat down and grinned at the confusion which -had overtaken his enemies. - -Setting a man at the head of each mule to coax and encourage him, and -the rest of the company to pushing and prying on the wagon, Si had -mounted the wheel-mule himself and put forth his mule-knowledge in one -feverish effort, which was as futile as it was desperate, for the mules -did not seem to change their positions for a rest, even, when the wagon -was forced forward on them. - -A very dapper young Aid, fresh from West Point, and with that high -appreciation for himself that can only be acquired at the United States -Military Academy, galloped up, sternly ordering everybody to make way -for him, and, - -"Present the compliments of the Major-General commanding the division, -and what the h—'s the matter?" - -"Capt. McGillicuddy, to whom the young gentle man had been referred as -in charge, said quietly: - -"You see: A mule-team has balked and stopped everything. We're doing our -best to start them, but so far without success." - -"So we all perceive," said the young man superciliously. "Why are you -not down there directing them?" - -"The men that I have down there thoroughly understand mules, and are -doing their very utmost. They are having, as you can see, a superfluity -of advice which is not helping them. I can best help by letting them -alone to work it out their own way. They will do all that men can." - -"I shall report the case to the General," said the Aid, with scarcely- -concealed insolence. "Just like these confounded volunteers," he said as -he turned away, taking no pains to keep the Captain from overhearing. -"Never will be genuine soldiers in the world. Here, my men," continued -he, riding over to the wagon, "stir yourselves lively, now, and start -these wagons along. I want no more fooling, and won't have it. Start, -now." - -Shorty had the usual volunteer dislike to young West Pointers; like the -rest of the men he cordially hated and ridiculed the young and airy -staff officers, whether from West Point or not. It irritated him to see -the youngster's treatment of his Captain. Saying snappy things at and -about the Captain was a privilege jealously reserved to members of the -company. To have anybody outside abuse the Captain was an insult to be -resented. Above all, his American soul rose in wrath at the patronizing -"my men." He would not have been at all offended at one of his own -rough-and-ready officers jumping in and distributing curses on all -hands, but "my men" was too much for him. - -Without appearing to notice the presence of the Aid, Shorty walked up to -the lead-mule, gave him a tremendous kick in the ribs, and sung out in a -tone loud enough to be heard across the roaring branch: - -"You pernickety pile o' poll-evil; you hee-hawin' graduate o' West -Point; you pin-feathered, taller-faced, pop-eyed, lantern-jawed, loud- -mouthed Second Lieutenant, you, won't you git up?" - -The other boys began to catch on and grin. The Aid's face flushed, but -Shorty continued his loud objurgations at the mule: - -"You misbegotten pill o' perdition; you pompous, puddin'-headed staff -officer; you miserable errand-boy for the General, puttin' on more airs -than the General; you half-hatched officer, runnin' around yit with the -shell on your head, and pretendin' to be cock-o'-the-walk, won't you git -up?" - -Even the Aid began to understand the drift of Shorty's remarks by this -time, and Capt. McGillicuddy called out warningly: - -"Shorty! Shorty!"' - -Si looked in amazement at this new development of his partner's genius. -The officers and men on the other side of the branch seemed to have -forgotten for the moment the annoyance of the balked team in enjoyment -of Shorty's outburst. - -"Why under heaven they put such murrain cattle as you in the army I -can't tell," he continued with another savage kick in the mule's side. -"You only take up room from your betters. You don't fight, you only -strut like a turkey-cock, and eat and he-haw. Now, will you git up?" - -The Aid could not fail to understand now. He burst out in a torrent of -rage: "You infernal scoundrel," he shouted, forcing his horse up to -Shorty; "I'll have you shot for insubordination, for insulting and -mutinous language to your superior officer." - -"I wasn't sayin' nothin' to you," said Shorty, looking up with an air of -surprise. "I hain't had nothin' to do with you. I was cussin' this other -piebald pilgarlic from West Point; this other pig headed pickaninny o' -the Regular Army; this Brevet-Second Lieutenant o' the Quartermaster's -Department, and Aid on the staff o' Gen. Groundhog. You ain't my -superior officer, nohow." - -"Corporal," shouted the Aid to Si, "take this rascal up there on the -bank and buck-and-gag him. Do it at once." - -"I don't believe you have the right to give me orders, sir," said Si -respectfully. "I am under Capt. McGillicuddy's orders." - -"You are right, Corporal," said Capt. McGillicuddy, stepping forward. -"Lieutenant, you cannot order one of my men to be punished. You have no -right to command here. You are merely to convey the General's orders to -those who are in command." - -"I have the right to give orders. I represent the General, and speak in -his name, and I order that man to be bucked-and-gagged," reiterated the -Aid in a flame of anger. "I'll see that it is done. I shall not be so -insulted before the whole army. It will destroy all discipline." - -"Fortunately, the discipline of the army does not depend on the respect -shown Second Lieutenants," Capt. McGillicuddy could not help saying. "If -you have any complaint to make against one of my men, state it to me, -their Captain, or to the Colonel of the regiment. We are the persons, -not you, to deal with them." - -The men around understood; nothing pleased them better than to see a -bumptious young Aid sat down upon, and they were outspoken in their -delight. - -"I shall report you to the General, and have you court-martialed," said -the Aid, shaking his fist at Capt. McGillicuddy. "I shall!" - -"Mr. Farwell," said the Chief of Staff, riding up, "why haven't you -reported to the General as to the trouble here? We've been waiting for -you." - -"Here," came the clear-cut tones of the Colonel across the branch; "no -use of wasting any more time on those mules. They're there to stay. -Unhitch them, fasten on a picket-rope, and we'll pull the wagon across -from this side." - -Everybody sprang to execute this order, but Si and Shorty's hands had -not reached the traces when an idea seemed to shoot simultaneously -through each of the six mules, and with one impulse they plunged ahead, -directly into the swollen waters. - -Si and Shorty sprang back toward their heads to guide them over the -narrow crossing. But the mules seemed to take the right course by -instinct, and landed the wagon safely on the other side, without a -particle of water entering the bed. Everybody cheered, and Si and Shorty -looked as if their minds had been relieved of a terrible load. - -"Si," said Shorty, with a tinge of weariness in his tone, "they say it -is about 18 miles from here to Shelbyville." - -"Somethin' like that," answered Si. - -"I think there are about three o' these cricks to every mile. Do you -really suppose we'll be able to git there before our three years is up?" - -"All depends on the mules," answered Si cheerily. "If this sudden spell -o' goodness holds out we may get there before evening." - - - - - -CHAPTER III. THIRD DAY OF THE DELUGE TOILSOME PLODDING, AND "SHELBYVILLE -ONLY 15 MILES AWAY." - -IT SEEMS impossible, but the third day's rain was even worse than that -of the two preceding. The drops seemed much larger, to follow each other -faster, and with less interval between the downpours. - -"Does it always rain this way in June down here?" Si asked a patriarch, -who was sitting on his porch by the roadside in a split-bottomed -rocking-chair, resting his bony hands on a cane, the head of which was a -ram's horn, smoking a corn-cob pipe and watching the passing column with -lack-luster eyes. - -"Sah," said the sage, poking down the ashes in his pipe with his little -finger, "I've done lived in the Duck River Valley ever sence Capting -Jimmy Madison wuz elected President the fust time, and I never seed sich -a wet spell as this afore. I reckon hit's all along o' the wah. We -allers have a powerful sight o' rain in wah times. Hit rained powerful -when Jinerul Jackson wuz foutin' the Injuns down at Hoss Shoe Bend, and -the Summers durin' the Mexican war wuz mouty wet, but they didn't hold a -candle to what we're havin' this yeah. Hit's the shootin' and bangin', I -reckon, that jostles the clouds so's they can't hold in." - -"How far is it to Shelbyville, Gran'pap?" asked Shorty. - -'don't Call Me Your Gran'pap.' 37 - -"Don't call me yer gran-pap," piped out the old man in angry falsetto, -and shaking his cane. "I won't stand hit. I won't stand everything. I've -had enough ter stand from you Yankees already. You've stole my chickens -an' robbed my smoke-house, an' run off my stock, an' I've done stood -hit, but I won't stan' bein' called gran'pap by ye. I've some mouty mean -grandsons, some that orter be in the penitentiary, but I hain't none -mean enough t' be in the Yankee army." - -"We didn't mean no offense, sir," said Si placatingly. "We really don't -want you for a gran'father. We've got gran'fathers o' our own, and -they're very nice old men, that we wouldn't trade off for anything ever -raised in Tennessee. Have you anything to eat that you'll sell us? We'll -pay you for it." - -"No, I haint got nothin' nary mite," quavered the old man. "Your men an' -our men have stole everything I have stock, cattle, sheep, hogs, -poultry, meat an' meal everything, except my bare land an' my hope o' -heaven. Thank God, none on ye kin steal them from me." - -"Don't be too blamed sure about that, old feller," said Shorty. "Better -hide 'em. The Maumee Muskrats are jest behind us. They're the worst -thieves in the whole army. Don't let 'em know anything about your land -or your hope o' salvation, or they'll have it in their haversacks before -you kin wink." - -"You haint told us yit how far it is to Shelbyville," said Si. - -"Young man," said the sage oracularly, "that altogether depends. -Sometimes Shelbyville is mouty fur off, an' sometimes she is right here. -On bright, cl'ar days, when the roads is good, hit's only a few steps -over thar jest two sees an' a holler." - -"What's that?" said Si. "Two sees an' a holler? How far is that?" - -"He means," explained Shorty, "that you go as far as you kin see from -the highest hilltop to the next highest hill-top twice, and then it's -only about as much farther as your voice will reach." - -"Jest so," asserted the patriarch. "I kin saddle my ole nag arter -dinner, rack over an' do some tradin', an' rack back agin in time for -supper. But 'when we have sich sorry weather as this, Shelbyville seems -on t' other side o' nowhar. You've got t' pull through the mud an' swim -every branch and crick, an' you're mouty lucky if you git thar in a -week." - -"Why don't you build bridges over the creeks?" asked Si. - -"Can't do hit when hit's rainin' an they're runnin' over thar banks." - -"But why don't you do it when the weather's good?" - -"What's the use? You kin git over all right then." - -"Sir," said the Brigadier-General, riding up and addressing the old man, -"where does the Shakerag road come into the Bellbuckle road?" - -Instantly the old man felt that he was being asked to give "aid and -information to the enemy," and his old eyes grew hard and his wrinkled -face set. "I don't know, sah." - -"Yes, you do," said the Brigadier-General impatiently, "and I want you -to tell me." - -"I don't know, sah," repeated the old man. - -"Are there any works thrown up and any men out there on the Shakerag -road?" asked the Brigadier. - -"I don't know, sah." - -"Did a large body of rebels go past your house yesterday, and which road -did they take at the forks?" inquired the Brigadier. - -"I don't know, sah." - -The Brigadier-General was not in the best of humor, and he chafed -visibly at the old man's answers. - -"Does not Goober Creek run down there about a mile in that direction?" -he again inquired, pointing with his field-glasses. - -"I don't know, sah." - -"How long have you lived here?" asked the Brigadier savagely. - -"Nigh on to 55 year, sah." - -"And you don't know where Goober Creek is, and which way it runs?" asked -the Brigadier, losing all patience. - -"No, sah," responded the imperturbable old man. - -"Well," said the Brigadier-General grimly, "it is high time that you -discovered that interesting stream. You might die without seeing it. Men -(to Si and Shorty) take him down that road about a mile, where you will -find a considerable body of water which I'm given to understand is -called Goober Creek. You'll show it to him in all its magnificence and -beauty. Geography is a very interesting study, old man, and it is not -too late for you to begin getting acquainted with your own country." - -The bitter humor of taking a man through the mud and pouring rain to see -a creek that he had seen nearly every day of his life for a half-century -was such that all the men were in a mood to appreciate. Si and Shorty -entered into the affair with zest. They put a blanket on the old man's -shoulders, to shelter him from the rain. Such a thing as an umbrella had -never been in his house. Even the women would have looked upon it as a -piece of luxurious effeminacy. - -The old fellow grumbled, expostulated, and protested, but if Si and -Shorty had had no other motive, orders direct from the Brigadier-General -would have been executed at any cost. It was the first time that they -had ever received orders from anybody higher than the Colonel, and the -effect upon them was extraordinary. - -"What in the everlastin' kingdom," grumbled he, "kin your niggah-lovin' -Yankees expect t' gain by draggin' me out when hit's a-rainin' cats and -dogs?" - -"Don't know nothin' about it," answered Si, catching him by the shoulder -to hurry him up. "'Tain't our business to know. We ain't paid for -knowin' anything more than orders, and hardly enough for that. A man -can't know much for $13 a month." - -"'Twon't help yer niggeh-stealin' army a mite t' pi'nt out Goober Crick -t' me. I ain't gwine t' tote ye over nor show ye the fords." - -"Don't care nothin' about that neither," replied Shorty, as they pushed -the old man along through the blinding 'rain. "Our orders is merely to -show you Goober Crick. 'Tain't none o' our business what the General -wants you to see it for. Mebbe he thinks it 'll improve your mind to -gaze on the beauties o' nature. Mebbe he thinks you need exercise. Mebbe -he thinks a shower-bath'd do you good." - -The column had been checked by some difficulty in front, and as the boys -conveyed their charge through the ranks of waiting men it seemed that -everybody understood what they were doing, and volleys of sarcasm were -flung at their prisoner. There were inquiries as to how he liked the -study of geography as far as he had gotten; whether he would continue it -in more favorable weather, and whether this primary lesson would be -followed by others on the road to the mill, the path to the stable, and -the way to the spring. If the old man had not already been as angry as -he could be, his temper would have risen. - -After a lot of toilsome plodding through the rain and mud which the -passing wagons had made fathomless, they came to the top of a high hill, -from which they could look down on a turbid sweep of yellow water, about -half a mile away, which filled nearly the whole valley. - -The reason of delay was at once apparent. The insignificant stream had -suddenly become an almost impassable obstacle. Men were riding carefully -across the submerged bottom land, prodding with poles, to pick out -crossings. Others were digging down approaches to what seemed promising -crossings, and making rude bridges across gullies and smaller streams -that intervened. - -It seemed that the fresh young Aid with whom the boys had the encounter -the day before had in some mysterious way gained charge of the advance. -He had graduated into the Engineer Corps from West Point, and here was -an opportunity to display his immense knowledge to the glory of himself -and the Engineers and the astonishment of those inferior persons who -were merely officers of cavalry, infantry and artillery. Now he would -show off the shrewd expedients and devices which have embellished the -history of military engineering since the days of Hannibal and Julius -Cesar. - -That everybody might know who was doing all this, the Aid was riding -back and forward, loudly commanding parties engaged in various efforts -over more than a quarter of a mile of front. He had brought up the -pontoon-train, and the pontoniers were having a hard time trying to -advance the boats into the rushing waters. It was all that the men could -do to hold them against the swift current. If a pole slipped or went -down in a deep hole the men holding it would slip and probably fall -overboard, the boat would whirl around and drift far out of its place, -requiring great labor to bring it back again, and bringing down a -torrent of curses from the young Lieutenant on the clumsiness of "the -Stoughton bottles" who were pretending to be soldiers and pontoniers. He -was feeling that every word of this kind showed off his superior -knowledge to those around. Some of the men were standing waist-deep in -the water, trying to fasten lines to trees, to hold in place the boats -already stationed and being held there by arms straining at the poles. -Everywhere those engaged in the work were tumbling down in the water or -being carried off their feet by the current and rescued again with -difficulty, to be hauled out on the bank, exhausted, soaked to the skin -and covered with slimy mud. - -For awhile this had seemed funny to the troops waiting to cross, and -they had yelled and laughed themselves hoarse at the mishaps of their -comrades. Now the fun had all evaporated and everybody was morose, with -a strong tendency to outbreaks of profanity. - -The old man surveyed the scene with evident satisfaction. "Yo' Yankees -will git over thar about the middle o' July," he chuckled. "Now, I -reckon that's Goober Crick, an' as I have done seed hit you'll let me go -back home, I s'pose, won't ye?" - -"That's probably Goober Crick, or at least Goober Crick is somewhere -under that muddy freshet," acquiesced Shorty. "But I'm not at all sure -that it's the crick. Looks more like a misplaced chunk out o' the -Mizzoori River. I'm not sure, either, that your eyes kin see that -distance. We'll have to walk you till we find a section of the crick -somewhere that kin be recognized by the naked eyes. Come along, and step -lively." - -The old man groaned, but there was no hope for him from these relentless -executants of orders. For a half hour more they plodded on. The mud grew -deeper at every step, but the boys mercilessly forced the old man -through the worst of it, that they might reach some point where they -could actually see Goober Crick. He could not palm off on them any -common old mud freshet for a creek that had a regular place on the map. - -Finally they came near the pontoons, and saw one almost capsize, -throwing everybody in it into the water, while another whirled madly -away toward the center of the current, with but one man in, who was -frantically trying to stop it and save himself. - -"Yes, he'll stop it, much," said Shorty, looking after him. "If he gits -ashore before he reaches the Mississippi I'll be surprised. Say, Si, -it'll be easier lookin' for Goober Crick in a boat than wading through -the mud. Let's git in one o' them boats." - -This terrified the old man till he was ready to yield. - -"I begin t' know the place," he admitted. "If we take this path through -the woods t' the left hit'll bring us out whar yo' kin see Goober Crick -for sartin, an' no mistake. Hit's allers above high-water thar." - -The boys followed. A very short walk through a curtain of deep woods -brought them on to much higher ground, where Goober Creek roared through -a narrow channel it had cut in the rocks. As they stood on the banks, Si -and Shorty's eyes met in a quick comprehension of the advantages of the -place. They looked backward through the woods to see a depression in the -hills, which promised a short and comparatively easy cut-off to the road -in the rear, where the 200th Ind. lay. - -"Yes, this is Goober Crick," said the old man, with an air of recalling -an old acquaintance. "I'm sure of hit. Now, you'll let me go home, won't -yer? I hain't got a dry thread left on me, an' I know I'll jest fairly -die o' rheumatiz." - -"Yes, you can go," said Shorty, who was filling his eyes with the lay of -the ground, and the chances it offered of getting the 200th Ind. across -ahead of the others and gaining the coveted head of the column. "I've no -doubt you're awful wet, but mebbe you know more'n you did a couple of -hours ago. Skip!" - -The old man moved off with alacrity scarcely to be expected of him, and -the boys saw that it was wisest to follow him, for he was taking a bee- -line through the woods and brush for his home, and that they knew was -near where they had left their regiment. - -Soon Co. Q, crouching under the cedars and ponchos spread over fence -corners, hovering around struggling fires, and sullenly making the best -of a very poor prospect, was electrified by Si and Shorty appearing on -as near a run as they could put up with their weight-soaked garments. - -"Capt. McGillicuddy," gasped Si, "we've found a bully place to cross. -Tell the Colonel quick. Let the boys git all the axes and shovels they -kin, and come with us. We'll have a crossin' ready by the time the -Colonel comes up with the regiment, and we kin git the advance agin." - -Si had gained that enviable position in the regiment where he could -always have plenty of followers to anything that he proposed. The sullen -despondency passed into active alertness as soon as he began speaking, -and before he was done some of them were rummaging around the wagons for -axes and shovels. Two or three of these implements were found in the old -man's yard. - -"Go ahead," said the Captain. "I'll speak to the Colonel, and we'll -follow you with the regiment. You can get the teams across, too?" - -"Certain," said Si, as he handed his gun, cartridge-box, haversack, -blanket-roll and overcoat to another boy to carry for him, shouldered -his ax and started off at a run, the others following. - -They came back to the spot whither the old man had led them. Si's -experienced eye quickly selected two tall hickories, which could be -felled directly across the stream and form the stringers for his bridge. -The next instant the damp air was ringing with the strokes of eight as -skillful axmen as there were in the army, Si leading on one tree and -Shorty on the other. They could not keep up the feverish pace they had -set for many minutes, but the instant their blows relaxed eight other -men snatched the axes, and in a few minutes the trees toppled and fell -just in the right position. Co. Q was now coming up, followed by the -rest of the regiment, and they gave a cheer to echo the crash of the -falling trees. Instantly hundreds of men and officers were at work -clearing a road and completing the bridge. Some cut down other trees to -furnish filling for the approaches, or to split into flooring for the -bridge. Some dug down the bank and carried the clay to cover the brush -and chunks. In an incredibly short time a bridge was completed, over -which the regiment was marched, and the wagons pulled by the men, after -the mules had been detached and walked over. - -Every fresh success was announced by tremendous cheering, which carried -information to the rest of the brigade that the 200th Ind. was doing -something unusual. News as to what this was at last reached the ears of -the Lieutenant of Engineers, who was continuing his struggle with the -pontoons with a persistence worthy of better luck. - -He rode up just in time to see Capt. McGillicuddy looking with elation -at the passage of the last wagon. - -"Why was I not informed as to what you were doing here, sir?" he asked -angrily. - -"Probably because we were too busy doing it to be talking about it. If -you had known of it you would probably have tried to apply the 47th -problem of Euclid to the case, and we wouldn't 've got ten over for a -week. Eventually, sir, I expect you will find out that there are several -things in the world that are not learned at West Point. Having -accomplished all that we want with the bridge, I now have the pleasure -of turning it over to the Engineer Department, and I wish that you may -find it very useful," continued the Captain, as with a mocking smile and -salute he followed the last of the regiment across the creek. - -"Adjutant," said Si, saluting that official with great respect, "we've -now got the advance agin, hain't we?" - -"You're right we have, you bully boy with a glass eye," said the -Adjutant, slapping him on the shoulder with a familiarity that would -have given the young Engineer Lieutenant a spasm and caused a strong -report on the discipline of the 200th Ind. "And you can just bet we'll -keep it, too. You ought to see the Colonel's eye. We'll lead the -procession into Shelbyville, which is only 15 miles away." - - - - - -CHAPTER IV. THE FOURTH DAY OF THE TULLAHOMA CAMPAIGN "SHELBYVILLE ONLY -10 MILES AWAY." - -AND it rained the fourth day rained as if there had been months of -drouth, during which it had been saving up water and gathering its -energies for an astonishing, overwhelming, make-up-for-lost-time effort. - -"Great goodness," said Si, as he and Shorty were again wringing their -blankets out to lighten the load they would start with; "seems to me -they're tryin' to move Lake Superior down here, and dumping the water by -train-loads." - -"Old Rosey ought to set us to buildin' arks," grumbled Shorty. "We'll -need 'em as bad as Noah did." - -There was an alleviation to the weather and mud in the good news that -came from all parts of the long front of 75 miles, on which the 60,000 -men of the Army of the Cumberland were pressing forward against their -enemies in spite of the apparent league of the same with the powers of -the air against them. Away off on the extreme right Gen. Mitchel's -cavalry had driven the enemy from Triune, Eagleville, Rover, and -Unionville; Gordon Granger's and Crittenden's infantry were sweeping -forward through Salem, Christiana, and Bradyville; grand old Pap Thomas, -in his usual place in the center, had swept forward with his accustomed -exhibition of well-ordered, calmly-moving, resistless power, and pushed -the enemy out of his frowning strongholds at Hoover's Gap; McCook, whose -advance had that splendid leader, John F. Miller, had struck success -fully at Liberty Gap, and far to our left the dash ing Wilder had led -his "Lightning Brigade" against the enemy's right and turned it. The -higher officers were highly elated at the success of Gen. Rosecrans's -brilliant strategy in forcing the very formidable outer line of the -enemy without a repulse any where. Their keen satisfaction was -communicated to the rank and file, and aroused an enthusiasm that was -superior to the frightful weather. Every body was eager to push forward -and bring Bragg to decisive battle, no matter how strong his -laboriously-constructed works were. - -"Old Rosey may be a little slow to start," Shorty held forth oracularly -to the group crouching over the fire, "but when he does start, great -Scott, but he's a goer. I'll put every cent I may have for the next 10 -years on him, even though he's handicapped by a Noah's deluge for 40 -days and 40 nights. And when it comes to playin' big checkers, with a -whole State for a board, and brigades and divisions for men, he kin -skunk old Bragg every time, without half tryin'. He's busted his front -row all to pieces, and is now goin' for his king-row. We'll have Bragg -before Grant gits Pemberton, and then switch around, take Lee in the -rear, capture Richmond, end the war, and march up Pennsylvania Avenue -before Old Abe, with the scalps o' the whole Southern Confederacy -hangin' at our belts." - -"Wish to Heaven," sighed Si, "Old Rosey'd thought to bring along a lot -of Ohio River coal scows and Wabash canal-boats to make our campaign in. -What fun it'd be jest to float down to Shelbyville and fight those -fellers with 100 rough-and-ready gunboats. Then, I'd like awfully to -know once more what it feels like to have dry feet. Seems to me my feet -are swelling out like the bottom of a swamp-oak." - -"Hope not, Si," said Shorty. "If they git any bigger there won't be room -enough for anybody else on the same road, and you'll have to march in -the rear o' the regiment. Tires me nearly to death now to walk around -'em." - -"There goes the bugle. Fall in, Co. Q," shouted the Orderly-Sergeant. - -As the 200th Ind. had the advance, and could leave the bothersome -problems of getting the wagons across the creeks to the unlucky regiment -in the rear, the men stepped off blithely through the swishing showers, -eager to find the enemy and emulate the achievements on previous days by -their comrades on other parts of the line. - -Being as wet as they could be, they did not waste any time about -crossing streams. The field officers spread out and rode squarely at the -most promising crossings in sight. The men watched their progress, and -took the best they found. If the water did not get above the middle of -the sides of the Colonel's medium-sized horse, they took off their -haversacks and unbuckled their cartridge-boxes, and plunged in after -him, the shorter men pairing off with the taller men, and clinging to -them. - -So eager was their advance that by the time they halted at noon for a -rest and a cup of coffee, they were miles ahead of the rest of the -brigade, and beginning to look forward to catching glimpses of -Shelbyville. - -They had encountered no opposition except long-taw shots from rebel -cavalry watching them from the opposite sides of the yellow floods, and -who would scurry away as soon as they began to cross. - -The young Aid again appeared upon the scene. - -"Colonel," he said, saluting, "the General presents his compliments, and -directs that you advance to that next creek, and halt there for the -night and observe it." - -"What did that young man remark?" said Shorty in an undertone; "that we -wuz to advance to that crick and observe it? What in the thunder have we -bin doin' for the past four days but observe cricks, an' cross the -nasty, wet things?" - -"He means, Shorty," said Capt. McGillicuddy, "that we are to go as near -as we can to the bank, and watch, that the rebels do not come across, -and wait there until the rest of the division get in supporting -distance." - -"I guessed that was what his West Point lingo meant, if he has brains -enough to mean anything. Why didn't he say in plain United States: 'Git -down to the edge o' that there crick, watch for a chance to jump the -rebels, and keep your eye peeled that the rebels don't jump you?' That'd -be plain Methodist-Episcopal, that everybody could under stand.". - -"I'll see that you are appointed Professor of Military Language and -Orders at West Point when you are discharged," said the Captain, -laughing. - -The regiment advanced to the edge of the swollen flood and made -themselves as comfortable as possible under shelters improvised from -rails, cedar boughs, pieces of driftwood, etc. A considerable force of -rebels appeared on the opposite bank, whose business seemed to be to -"observe" the Yankees. - -The restless Si and Shorty started out on a private reconnoissance. They -discovered that the shore opposite the left of the regiment was really -an island, separated by some hundreds of yards of rushing water from -them, but the main current ran on the other side of the island. - -"We can't observe the crick through that mass o' willers and -cottonwoods," said Shorty. "That's certain. No tellin' what devilment -the rebels are up to on the bank over there. They may be gittin' up a -flank movement over there, with pontoons and flatboats, to bust the -whole army wide open." - -"That's so," assented Si. "The orders are to observe this crick, and we -can't do it if we can't see the other bank. We ought to git over to that -island." - -They went back and reported to Capt. McGillicuddy, and told him what -they thought. He at once agreed with them, and sanctioned their proposal -to go over to the island, if they could find means of crossing. - -After a diligent search they came across an old canoe hollowed out of a -tulip-tree log. It was a cranky affair, and likely to turn over if their -hair was not parted exactly in the middle; but both of the boys were -used to canoe management, and they decided to risk the thing. - -It was ticklish business crossing the current, but they succeeded in -reaching the island, which extended a foot or more above the level of -the flood, and was covered with a thicket of willows and cottonwoods -about the size of hoe-handles. They pushed their way through these and -came in sight of the opposite banks. There was apparently some thing -important going on over there. Quite a number of rebels could be seen -moving about through the rain and mud, there was great deal of chopping -going on, several flatboats, canoes and rafts were lying at the bank, -wagons were passing, and the boys thought they could make out a cannon -or two. - -"I can't make out what in the world they're up to," said Si. "But I'm -certain the Colonel ought to know it. Suppose you take the canoe, -Shorty, and paddle over and report, and I'll stay here and watch." - -"All right," answered Shorty, starting back for the canoe. - -He reported to Capt. McGillicuddy, who took him up to the Colonel. - -"It don't seem possible that they can be doing anything to threaten us," -said the Colonel; "though they may know of some practicable crossing -higher up the stream, which will let them in on our flank. Still, they -ought to be watched. I'll inform the General at once. You had better -station a picket on the island, Captain, if you can do so safely." - -"Me and my pardner 'll look out for them, Colonel, if you think -necessary," said Shorty, proud to be of service under the Colonel's -direction. - -"Very good," said the Colonel briefly. "I'll entrust the lookout to you -boys. Let me know at once if anything important develops." - -The young Aid had been standing nigh during this conversation. - -"Your men, Colonel," he said patronizingly, "are excellent soldiers, in -their way, but they lack the intelligence necessary to comprehend the -movements of the enemy on the opposite bank. I think I shall go over -there myself, take a personal observation, and determine precisely what -the meaning of the movements may be." - -"As you like," said the Colonel stiffly. "As for myself, I don't think -it is necessary for me to go. I'd trust those boys' eyes as quick as I -would my own. They are as good soldiers as ever breathed; they are as -keen as a brier, with not a particle of nonsense about them. They are as -truthful as the day. When they tell me anything that they have seen with -their own eyes I can trust it as absolutely as if I had seen it myself; -and their judgment can not be beat." - -"No enlisted man can possibly see anything so well as an officer who has -been educated," said the Aid. - -"That is a matter of opinion," said the Colonel dryly. - -"Anyway, I'm going over to see for myself," said the Aid. And he called -after Shorty: - -"Here, my man, I'm going along with you." - -Shorty muttered some very warm words under his breath, but discipline -asserted itself, and he answered respectfully: - -"Very good, sir." - -He halted until the Aid came alongside, and then started to walk beside -him as he would have done with one of his own officers when out alone -with him. - -"Fall two paces behind," commanded the Aid sternly - -Shorty said to himself some very hotly-disparaging things about -pretentious young snips of Regular officers. They reached the canoe, and -the Lieutenant calmly seated himself in the stern. This was another -aggravation. If Shorty had gone out with one of his own officers, even -the Colonel, he would have shown a deep interest in everything and -wanted to do his share toward getting the canoe safely over. This young -fellow calmly seated himself, and threw all the responsibility and work -on Shorty. - -"Now, you set right in the center, there," said Shorty, as he picked up -the paddle and loosened the rope, "and keep mighty still." - -"My man," said the Lieutenant, frowning, "when I want your advice I'll -ask it. It is for me to give you directions, not you me. You paddle out, -now, and head straight for that island. Paddle briskly, and get me over -there as quick as possible." - -Shorty was tempted to tip the canoe over then and there, but he -restrained himself, and bent his strong arms to the hard task of -propelling the canoe across the strong current, avoiding the driftwood, -maintaining his balance, and keeping the bow pointed toward the place -where he wanted to land. - -The Lieutenant had sense enough to sit very still, and as he naturally -had been drilled into bolt-up-rightness, Shorty had little trouble with -him until they were nearing the shore. Then the canoe ran into a swirl -which threw its bow around. Forgetting his dignified pose, the -Lieutenant made a grab for some overhanging willows. - -"Let them alone, blast you; I'll bring her around all right," Shorty -started to yell, but too late. Before the words were out of his mouth -the cranky canoe went over. Shorty with the quickness of a cat jumped -clear, caught some branches with one hand, and made a grab for the canoe -with the other. But he saw the Lieutenant go down head foremost, with -fancy boots disappearing last. He let the canoe go, to make a grab for -the boots. He missed them, but presently the Lieutenant's head appeared, -and he gasped and sputtered: - -"Save me, my good man. I can't swim a stroke." - -Shorty plunged out, succeeded in catching the Lieutenant by the collar, -and after a vicious struggle with the current, grabbed with his right -hand a pole that Si thrust out to him, while with his left he dragged -the Lieutenant ashore, "wetter'n a blamed drowned West Point muskrat," -as he after ward expressed it. - -"My good man, you saved my life, and I thank you for it," said the -Lieutenant when he recovered his breath. "I shall mention you in my -report." - -"If you don't stop calling me your 'good man' I'll chuck you into the -drink again, you wasp-waisted, stiff-backed, half-baked West Point -brevet Second Lieutenant," said Shorty wrathfully. "If you'd had the -sense of a six-months'-old goslin' you'd 'a' set still, as I told you, -and let me manage that canoe. But you never kin learn a West Pointer -nothin'. He'd try to give God Almighty points if he got a chance. Now -we've lost our canoe, and we're in a devil of a fix. I feel like -throwin' you back in the crick." - -"Take care, my good" and then the Lieutenant caught the glare of -Shorty's eye. "Take care, sir. You're on the verge of mutiny. I may have -you court-martialed and shot, if you're not careful." - -"Court-martial and be blamed," said Si, who was as angry as Shorty. -"You've lost our canoe, and we may be drowned before we can git off this -island. It's got so dark they can't see us from the shore, the water's -steadily rising, these trees are too small to climb, and the Lord knows -how we're goin' to git off." - -"Corporal, I'll see that you're reduced to the ranks for disrespect to -me. I had intended to recommend this man for promotion on account of his -great service to the army in saving my life. Now I shall see that you -are both punished for insubordination." - -"Insubordination be damned, and you with it," said Shorty. "You'd better -be thinking how we're to git off this island. The water's bin raisin' -about a foot a minute. I've bin watchin' while we wuz talkin'." - -The Lieutenant stood, dazed, while the boys were canvassing plans for -saving themselves. - -"I'll tell you, Shorty," said Si suddenly. "Le's ketch one o' them big -saw-logs that's comin' down, straddle it, and let it carry us somewhere. -It may take us into our own lines. Anything's better than drowndin'. -Here comes one in the eddy now." - -Shorty caught the log with a long pole, and dexterously steered it up -close to the shore in comparatively still water. Si threw a grapevine -over it and held it. - -"Now, all git on," said Shorty. "Be careful not to push it away." - -"Let me get on ahead," said the Lieutenant, still mindful of his rank, -"and you two get on behind, the Corporal next to me." - -"Not much, Mary Ann," jeered Shorty. "We want a man of sense ahead, to -steer. I'll git on first, then you, and then Si, to bring up the rear -and manage the hind end of the log." - -The Lieutenant had to comply. They all got safely on, and Shorty pushed -off, saying: - -"Here, sit straight, both of you. Here goes mebbe for New Orleans, mebbe -for Libby Prison, mebbe for the camp of the 200th Ind. - -"We're out on the ocean sailin'." - -Here Goes, Mebbe to Libbey Prison. 55 - - - - - -CHAPTER V. AFLOAT ON A LOG SI, SHORTY AND THE WEST-POINTER HAVE AN -EVENTFUL JOURNEY. - -THE log swept out into the yellow swirl, bobbing up and down in the -turbulent current. - -"Bobs like a buckin' broncho," said Shorty. "Make you seasick, Si?" - -"Not yet," answered his partner. "I ain't so much afraid o' that as I am -that some big alligator-gar 'll come along and take his dinner off my -leg." - -"Bah," said Shorty, contemptuously; "no alligator-gar is goin' to come -up into this mud-freshet. He'd ruther hunt dogs and nigger-babies -further down the river. Likes 'em better. He ain't goin' to gnaw at them -old Wabash sycamore legs o' yourn when he kin git a bite at them fat -shoats we saw sailin' down stream awhile ago." - -"The belief in alligator-gar is a vulgar and absurd superstition," said -the Lieutenant, breaking silence for the first time. "There, isn't -anywhere in fresh water a fish capable of eating anything bigger than a -bull-frog." - -"Hullo; did West Point learn you that?" said Shorty. "You know just -about as much about it as you do about gittin' over cricks an' paddlin' -a canoe. Have you ever bin interduced to a Mississippi catfish? Have you -ever seen an alligator-gar at home in the Lower Mississippi? Naw! You -don't know no more about them than a baby does about a catamount. I have -heard tell of an alligator-gar that was longer'n a fence-rail, and sort -of king of a little bayou down in the Teche country. He got mad because -they run a little stern-wheel steamboat up into his alley to git their -cotton off, an' he made up his mind to stop it. He'd circle 'round the -boat to git a good headway and pick out his man. Then he'd take a run- -and-jump, leap clean across the boat, knock off the man he'd picked out, -an' tow him off under a log an' eat him. He intended to take the Captain -fust, but his appetite got the better of him. He saw a big, fat, juicy -buck nigger of a deck-hand, an' couldn't stand the temptation. He -fetched him easy. Next he took a nice, tender little cabin-boy. Then he -fetched the big old Mate, but found him so full o' terbacker, whisky and -bad language that he couldn't eat him nohow, an' turned him over to the -mudturtles, what'll eat anything. The Captain then got scared an' quit. -He didn't care a hat for the Mate, for he was glad to git rid of him; -but he liked the cabin-boy an' he had to pay the owner o' the nigger -$1,200 for him, an' that made runnin' up the Teche onprofitable." - -"Oh, Shorty," Si gasped. He thought he was acquainted with his partner's -brilliant talents for romance, but this was a meteoric flight that he -had not expected. - -"But that wasn't nothin'," Shorty continued, "to a he catfish that a man -told me about down near Helena, Ark. He used to swim around in a little -chute near a house-cabin in which lived a man with a mighty good-lookin' -young wife. The man was awful jealous of his woman, an' used to beat -her. The ole he catfish had a fine eye for purty women, and used to -cavort around near the cabin whenever his business would permit. The -woman noticed him, and it tickled him greatly. She'd throw him hunks o' -bread, chunks o' cold meat, and so on. The man'd come out and slap her, -and fling clubs and knots at him. One day the man put his wife in a -basswood canoe, and started to take her across the river. He hadn't got -a rod from the shore when the old he catfish ups and bites the canoe in -two, then nips the man's hand so's he didn't git over it for months, and -then puts his nose under the woman's arm, and helps her ashore as polite -as you please." - -"Shorty," gasped Si, "if you tell any more such stories as that this -log'll certainly sink. See it how it wobbles now." - -"I consider such stuff very discourteous to your officer," said the -Lieutenant stiffly. "I shall make a note of it for consideration at some -future time." - -"Halt! Who goes thar?" rang out sharply from the bank. - -"Hush; don't breathe," said Shorty. They were in an eddy, which was -sweeping them close to the rebel bank. - -"Who air yo' haltin'?" said a second voice. - -"I see some men in a canoe out thar. I heared their voices fust," said -the first voice. - -"Whar' yo see any men in a canoe?" asked the second incredulously. - -"Right over thar. You kin see 'em. They're comin' right this-a-way. I'm -a gwine t' halt 'em agin an' then shoot." - -"Stuff," said the other. "You're allers seein' shadders an' ghostses. -That 'er's only an ole tree with three limbs stickin' up. Don't yo' -shoot an' skeer the whole camp. They'll have the grand laugh on yo', an' -mebbe buck-an'-gag yo'." - -"'Tain't stuff," persisted the other. "Thar never wuz a tree that ever -growed that had three as big limbs as that all on one side. You're moon -blind." - -"A man mout well be rain blind in sich a storm as this, but I tell yo' -that's nothin' but an ole sycamore drift log. If yo' shoot the boys'll -never git tired o' damnin' yo', an' jest as likely as not the -ossifers'll make yo' tote a rail through the mud termorrer." - -The boys were so near that every word could be distinctly heard, and -they were floating nearer every moment. - -The suspense was thrilling. If the man fired at that distance he could -not help hitting one of them and discovering the others. They scarcely -breathed, and certainly did not move a muscle, as the log floated -steadily in-shore in the comparatively stiller waters of the eddy. The -rain was coming down persistently yet, but with a sullen quietness, so -that the silence was not broken by the splashing of the drops. - -A water-moccasin deadliest of snakes crawled up onto the log and coiled -himself in front of Si, with that indifference to companionship which -seems to possess all animals in flood-times. Si shuddered as he saw it, -but did not dare make a motion against it. - -The dialog on the bank continued. - -"Thar, you kin see thar air men in a canoe," said the first voice. - -"I can't see nothin' o' the kind," replied the other. - -"If hit ain't a log with three dead limbs, hit's a piece o' barn-timber -with the j'ists a-stickin' up." - -"I don't believe hit nary mite. Hit's men, an' I'm a-gwine t' shoot." - -"No, yo' hain't gwine t' make a durned fool o' yourself. Wait a minute. -Hit's a-comin' nigher, an' soon you kin hit it with a rock. I'll jest do -hit t' show yo how skeery yo' air. Le'me look around an' find a good -rock t' throw. If I kin find jest the right kind I kin hit a -yallerhammer at that distance." - -This prospect was hardly more reassuring than that of being fired at, -but there was nothing to do but to take whatever might come. To make it -more aggravating, the current had slowed down, until the motion of their -log was very languid. They were about 100 feet from the shore when they -heard the second voice say: - -"Heah, I've got jest the right kind o' a dornick. Now jest keep yer eye -peeled an' fixed on that center limb, an' yo'll hear it chunk when I -plunk hit an' show hit's nothin' but a stick o' wood." - -Si thought he saw the Lieutenant crouch a little, but was not sure. - -The stone came whistling through the air, struck the top of the -Lieutenant's cap and knocked it off into the water. - -"Thar," said the second voice triumphantly; "yo' see hit ain't no men. -Jest as I done tole yo'. I knocked the bark offen the end o' one o' the -sticks." - -The log moved slowly on, and presently catching in a stronger current, -swept out into the stream again. It seemed so like deliverance, that Si -made a quick blow and knocked the snake off into the water, and Shorty -could not help shouting triumphantly: - -"Good-by, Johnnies! Sorry we can't stay with you longer. Got other -engagements down the crick. Ta-ta! See you later." - -The chagrined sentry fired an angry shot, but they were already behind a -clump of willows. - -"Lootenant," said Shorty, "you put on a whole lot of unnecessary frills, -but you've got good stuff in you after all. You went through that little -affair like a man. I'll back you after this." - -"When I desire your opinion, sir, as to my conduct," replied the -Lieutenant, "I shall ask you for it. Until then keep it to yourself. It -is for me to speak of your conduct, not you of mine." - -But again they "had hollered before they were out o' the woods," as -Shorty afterward expressed it. The gunfire and the sound of their voices -so near shore had stirred up the rebels. A canoe with three men in it -had pushed out, and, struggling with the current, had made its way -toward them, guided by their own voices. The top of a floating tree had -hidden it from their sight until it suddenly came around the mass of -leafage, and a man standing up in the bow leveling a revolver at them -ordered instant surrender. The other two men were sitting in the middle -and stern with paddles, and having all they could do to maintain the -course of the canoe. - -Si and Shorty were so startled that for an instant they made no response -to the demand. The Lieutenant was the first to speak: - -"Are you a commissioned officer?" he inquired. - -"No," was the answer. - -"Then I refuse to surrender. I'll surrender to no one inferior to me in -rank." - -"Sorry we'uns can't obleege yo', nohow," said the man with the revolver, -in a sneer; "but we'uns'll have t' be good enough commissioned ossifers -for yo' jist now, an' yo'll have t' done hold up yo'uns hands. We'uns -hain't no time t' send ashore for a Lootenant." - -The other two chuckled as they struggled with the current, and forced -the canoe up close to the log. Shorty made a motion as if throwing up -his hands, and called out in a submissive way: - -"Here, le'me git hold o' the bow, and I kin help you. It's awful hard -paddlin' in this current." - -Without thinking the men threw the bow in so close that Shorty could -clutch it with his long hand. The grab shook the ticklish craft, so that -the man with the revolver could scarcely keep his feet. - -"Heah," he yelled at the other two. "Keep the dugout stiddy. What air -yo'uns doin'? Hold her off, I tell yo'uns." - -Then to the Lieutenant: - -"Heah, yo'uns surrender to wonst, or I'll blow yo' heads offen yo'uns." - -The Lieutenant started a further remonstrance, but Shorty had in the -meantime got the other hand on the canoe, and he gave it such a wrench -that the man with the pistol lost his footing and fell across the log, -where he was grabbed by Shorty and his pistol-hand secured. The stern of -the canoe had swung around until Si had been able to catch it with one -hand, while with the other he grabbed the man in the stern, who, seeing -the sudden assumption of hostilities, had raised his paddle to strike. - -Si and Shorty had somewhat the advantage in position. By holding on to -the log with their legs they had a comparatively firm, base, while the -canoe was a very ticklish foundation for a fight. - -The middle man also raised his paddle to strike, but the Lieutenant -caught it and tried to wrest it away. This held the canoe and the log -close together while Si and Shorty were struggling. Si saw this, and -letting go, devoted both hands to this man, whom he pulled over into the -water about the same time that Shorty possessed himself of the other -man's pistol and dragged him out of the canoe. - -"Hold fast in the center there, Lieutenant," he called out, as he -dropped the pistol into his bosom and took in the situation with a quick -glance. "You two Johnnies hold on to the log like grim death to a dead -nigger, and you won't drown." - -He carefully worked himself from the log into the canoe, and then Si did -the same. They had come to a part where the water spread out in a broad -and tolerably calm lake over the valley, but there was a gorge at the -further end through which it was rushing with a roar. Log and canoe were -drifting in that direction, and while the changes were being made the -canoe drifted away from the log. - -"Hold on, men," shouted the Lieutenant; "you are certainly not going to -abandon your officer?" - -"Certainly not," said Shorty. "How could you imagine such a thing? But -just how to trade you off for this rebel passenger presents -difficulties. If we try to throw him overboard we shall certainly tip -the canoe over. And I'm afraid he's not the man to give up peaceably a -dry seat in the canoe for your berth on the log." - -"I order you to come back here at once and take me in that boat," said -the Lieutenant imperatively. - -"We are comin' back all right," said Shorty; "but we're not goin' to let -you tip this canoe over for 40 Second Lieutenants. We'll git you out o' -the scrape somehow. Don't fret." - -"Hello, thar! Help! Help!" came across the waters in agonized tones, -which at the same time had some thing familiar in them. - -"Hello, yourself!" responded Shorty, making out, a little distance away, -a "jo-boat," that is, a rude, clumsy square-bottomed, square-ended sort -of a skiff in which was one man. "What's wanted?" - -"I'm out here adrift without no oars," came in the now-distinctly -recognizable voice of Jeff Hackberry. "Won't yo' please tow me ashore?" - -"Le's go out there and git him," said Shorty to Si. "We kin put all -these fellers in that jo-boat and save 'em." - -A few strokes of their paddles brought them alongside. - -"How in the world did you come here, Hackberry," asked Shorty. - -"O, that ole woman that I wanted so bad that I couldn't rest till I got -her wuz red-hot t' git rid o' me," whined Hackberry. "She tried half-a- -dozen ways puttin' wild parsnip in my likker, giving me pokeberry -bitters, and so on, but nothin' fetched me. Finally she deviled me to -carry her acrost the crick to the Confederit lines. I found this ole jo- -boat at last, an' we got in. Suddenly, quick as lightning she picked up -the oars, an' give the boat a kick which sent hit away out into the -current. I floated away, yellin' at her, an' she standin' on the bank -grinnin' at me and cussin'. I've been havin' the awfulest day floatin' -down the freshet, expectin' every minute t' be drowned, an' both sides -pluggin' away at me whenever they ketched sight o' me. I wuz willin' t' -surrender t' either one that'd save me from being drownded, but none of -'em seemed t' care a durn about my drowndin'; they only wanted t' plug -me." - -"Please save me, Mister," begged Jeff, "an' I'll do anything under the -shinin' sun for yo'; I'll jine the Yankee army; I'll lead you' to whar -thar's nests o' the pizenest bushwhackers. I'll do anything yo' kin ax -me. Only save me from being drownded. Right down thar's the big falls, -an' if I go over them, nothin' kin same me from drowndin'." And he began -a doleful blubbering. - -"On general principles, I think that'd be the best thing that could -happen," remarked Shorty. "But I haven't time to discuss that now. Will -you do just what we want, if we save your life?" - -"Yes; yes," responded he eagerly. - -"Well, if you don't, at the very minute I tell you, I'll plug you for -certain with this," said Shorty, showing the revolver. "Mind, I'll not -speak twice. I'll give you no warnin'. You do what I tell you on the -jump, or I'll be worse to you than Mrs. Bolster. First place, take this -man in with you. And you (to the rebel in the canoe) mind how you git -into that boat. Don't you dare, on your life, kick the canoe over as you -crawl out. If I find it rocks the least bit as you leave I'll bust your -cocoanut as the last act of my military career. Now crawl out." - -The rebel crawled over the gunwale into the boat as cautiously as if -there were torpedoes under him. - -"Now," said Shorty, with a sigh of relief, as the man was at last out of -the canoe, "we'll paddle around here and pick up some pieces of boards -for you to use as oars. Then you bring the boat over to that log." - -This was done, and the Lieutenant and the two rebels clinging to the log -were transferred to the jo-boat. The moment the Lieutenant felt himself -in the comparative security of the jo-boat his desire for command -asserted itself. - -"Now, men," said he, authoritatively, "pull away for the other side, -pointing up stream. That glow over there is our campfires. Make for it." - -"All right, Lootenant," said Shorty. "You command that boat. You've got -your revolver with you, and kin make 'em mind. We'll pick up some more -boards, so as to have oars for all o' 'em. They'd better use 'em lively, -for it ain't a great ways t' the suck. If you git into that you'll go to -Davy Jones's as sure as the Lord made little apples. Paddle, now, if you -value your lives. Me and Si are goin' back to look for that galoot that -shot at us. We want to make a present of him to our Colonel, who's after -information from the other side. We want his gun and another one to make -up for the two that we had to leave on the island. We'll join you before -you git acrost." - -The Lieutenant lifted up his voice in remonstrance against the desperate -undertaking, but Si and Shorty paddled swiftly away, leaving him and his -squad to struggle over the muddy lake in their clumsy bateau. - -Though the boys were sadly worn by the day's exciting adventures, yet -they were animated by the hope of doing something that would signally -retrieve their earlier misfortunes. Both were adepts at canoe -navigation, the canoe was light and easily managed with but two in it, -and they had gotten the lay of the shore so well in mind that they felt -sure that they could slip around and come in on the man who had fired -upon them. The drizzle of the rain helped curtain them; they pushed the -canoe through the top of a paw-paw thicket that rose but a little way -above the flood, Shorty sprang out, and in a few steps came up behind -the two pickets, who were crouching over a little fire they had built -behind the cover of some dense weeds. - -"Was this the post that fired on men in a canoe a little while ago?" he -asked, as if a rebel officer out on a tour of investigation. - -"Yes," the men stammered, as soon as they could recover from the startle -of his sudden appearance. - -"Which man fired?" asked Shorty. - -"Me," answered one. - -"Well, I want you and both your guns," said Shorty, thrusting his -revolver against the man's face. "Pick up them guns and go right ahead -there." - -The man meekly did as bid, and in a few minutes was landed into the -canoe, into which Shorty jumped and pushed off. When nearly across they -came upon the jo-boat, with the Lieutenant standing erect with drawn -revolver, while the men were laboring hard to propel it to shore. The -boys fastened its painter to the stern of the canoe and helped by -towing. - -They headed for a large fire burning brightly on the bank, indicating -that it was the headquarters of the pickets. In response to the sharp -challenge, the Lieutenant responded: - -"Friends, without the countersign." - -Quite a number of officers and men thronged to the water's edge to see -what could be coming from that unexpected quarter. The Lieutenant -ordered the boys to fall to the rear with their canoe, that he might be -the first to land, and as his bateau labored close to the shore he -recognized the Colonel in command of the picket line, and said in a loud -voice: - -"Sir, I have the honor to report that I have been across the creek -reconnoitering the enemy's lines. I have with me five prisoners four -soldiers and one guerrilla." - - - - - -CHAPTER VI. DISTRESSING ENEMIES OTHER THAN THE REBELS AND RAIN, MUD, AND -SWOLLEN STREAMS. - -SI WOKE up early the next morning with a savage exclamation. - -"I declare, I'm all on fire," he said. "Some thing's just eating me up. -I believe I've got a million graybacks on me." - -I'm All on Fire 77 - -"Same here, Si," said Shorty. "Never knowed 'em to be so bad. Seem to -'ve just got in from a march, and are chawin' three days' rations out o' -me every minute. I'd 'a' thought they'd all 've bin drowned from the -duckin' they've bin havin' for the past five days, but it only seems to -'ve sharpened their teeth and whetted their appetites. They've all come -to dinner, and invited their friends." - -"Where in the world could they have all come from?" meditated Si. "We -wuz certainly clean of 'em when we started out six days ago." - -"O, the rebels skipped out in sich a hurry," ex plained Shorty, "that -they even dropped their house hold pets, which we inherited as we -follered 'em up. I wish this infernal rain'd let up long enough for us -to do some skirmishin' and bile our clothes. Or if the sun'd only come -out an hour or two, we could find an ant-hill, an' lay our clothes on -it. I don't know any little thing that I enjoy more on a pleasant day -when we've bin a long march and got mighty 'crumby, than to pull off my -shirt and lay it on a lively ant-hill, and light my pipe and set there -and watch the busy ants collar its inhabitants and carry 'em off to fill -up their smoke-houses with Winter meat." - -He put his hand meditatively into his bosom as he spoke. As he withdrew -it he looked down and exclaimed: - -"Jehosephat, it's fleas, too. Just look there. I'm alive with fleas." - -"Same here," ejaculated Si, who had made a similar discovery. "Just look -at 'em, hoppin' out every where. The rebels have not only set their -grayback infantry on to us, but are jumping us with their flea cavalry." - -"If you call the graybacks infantry and the fleas cavalry, what in the -world do you call these, Si?" said Shorty, who had made still another -discovery, and was pointing to his wrists and ankles, where rows of -gorged ticks, looking like drops of fresh blood, encircled his limbs. - -"Them's heavy artillery," answered Si; "and, Great Scott, I've got more -of 'em on me than you have. And there's some just back of your ears, -Shorty. Be careful, Shorty. Don't touch 'em. Le' me work 'em off. Be -awful careful. If you break their heads off they'll stay in and make a -sore that'll almost never get well." - -They looked down the lines of men who, like themselves, had been rudely -awakened from their slumber on wet beds by "the pestilence that walketh -by night." There were howls, yells, oaths and imprecations from -everybody. Officers forgot their carefully-maintained dignity, and were -as vociferous and profane as the men. - -Many were stripped, and trying to singe their wet clothes over the -smoldering fires. Many were even trying to subdue the pests by thrashing -their garments in the cold water of the creek. - -"'Bout as much use as a General Order from Army Headquarters would be -agin the varmints," said Shorty, as he watched their futile labors. -"Say, you fellers," he called out to them; "why don't you repeat the Ten -Commandments to 'em? Or sing the doxology? It'll do just as much good as -sloshing your duds around in the water. The water only makes 'em -savager'n ever. You ought to know that from experience." - -By the happy thought of gently touching the gorged wood-ticks with the -point of a pin Si and Shorty had gotten rid of those plagues, heads and -all, so as to leave no apprehension as to future sores. They -communicated this method to their afflicted comrades, and then turned -their attention to the other parasites. - -"I guess I'll just go down to the Surgeon's tent and git a pound of -angwintum," said Shorty, "and rub myself from head to foot with it. -That's the only thing I know of that'll do the least good." - -"Mustn't do that," objected Si. "Put angwintum on you and get wet, and -you'll be salivated. You ought to know that." - -"I don't care," said Shorty desperately. "I'd rather be salivated till -my teeth drop out and my hair falls off than be carried off in large -chunks by fleas and graybacks. Come along." - -"Mebbe the Surgeon has something else that'll pizen these little -cusses," said Si, falling in with his comrade. - -They found a clamorous group around the Surgeon's tent, asking for -"angwintum (mercurial ointment) or anything else that would alleviate -their torments. The worried Surgeon was scratching himself as he -explained to the Colonel: - -"It seems to me, 'Colonel, that the rising water has concentrated all -these parasites on the higher ground over which we have come. This is -the only way in which I can account for their severe visitation upon us. -The parasites seem to have the same instinct to gather on elevated spots -when the water is rising that other animals have, and we have -consequently gathered up four or five times as many, to say the least, -as we should otherwise have gotten. But you don't know the worst of it -yet. You see those men? They have sore feet. But it isn't ordinary sore -feet. They've got chiggers in their feet." - -"Chiggers. What are they?" asked the Colonel. - -"Chiggers, jiggers, chigoes pulex penetrans," answered the Surgeon. -"They are a great pest in the tropics, where the people go barefooted -and do not take any care of their feet. This is the first time that I -have ever heard of them being so far north. But there is no doubt about -their being chiggers. They burrow in under the skin, and cause a great -deal of suffering. Some of the men's hands and fingers are also affected -by them. They are terrible things to deal with when they once get the -start. If this thing goes on, not a man in the regiment will be able to -walk a step." - -"What can be done?" gasped the Colonel, gripping for a flea in his -bosom. - -"Nothing," answered the Surgeon, smashing an insect on the back of his -hand, "except to issue a stringent order that the men must take special -care of their feet and hands." - -"Humph," said the Colonel, scornfully, as he caught a bug on his wrist; -"much sense in an order of that kind, when the men have to wade through -mud and water 18 hours out of 24, and then sleep in it the other six. Is -that the best you can suggest? Is that all your conscience has to offer? -Remember that you are responsible for the efficiency of the men on this -great campaign, upon which the safety of the country depends. It will be -a severe reflection upon you if you allow them to be broken down by a -few insects." - -"Great Pharaoh and Moses," responded the Surgeon irritably, as he -grabbed for "a bite" on his throat. "Here we are, confronted with a -condition of things like the curses which God Almighty sent against the -Egyptians, and you expect me to manage it with quinine and epsom salts. -It can't be done, Colonel." - -"Isn't there anything that you can suggest or recommend that will -mitigate this trouble?" said the Colonel in a more conciliatory manner, -for he had just succeeded in crushing a tormentor. "Certainly, there -must be something in your pharmacopeia which will at least retard these -infernal vermin from eating my men alive. Can't you at least check them -a little until we can get through the campaign? Then the men can be -trusted to take care of themselves." And the Colonel made a swoop for a -particularly vicious flea which was banqueting on the lobe of his ear. - -"I never set up as a sharp on parasites," said the Surgeon, running down -a "small deer" inside his collar; "but I remember to have read that an -application of tobacco-juice is about as effective a preventive of -insect bites as can be found." - -"That'll do; that'll do," said Shorty triumphantly, as he and Si started -back to their places to act at once on the Surgeon's suggestion. "Just -the thing. Tobacker'll kill 'em deader than small-beer. Why didn't I -think about it before?" - -Shorty had some strong black plug tobacco. He cut this up into small -pieces, while Si found an old tin can, into which they were put, and -then the can filled up with boiling water. - -"Let's make her good and strong, Si," said Shorty, putting in some more -tobacco; "for the fellers are sock-dolagers, and it will take a horse -dose to kill 'em. They'll just enjoy a little taste o' terbacker. Make -it strong enough to bear up an aig. Now, let's git our clothes off while -it's coolin' down. You drench me, and I'll drench you, and we'll -salivate these gallinippers in a way that'll surprise 'em." - -The surprise seemed to be mostly on the other side. Shorty's skin was -raw from head to foot from the depredations of the various tribes of -"epizoa," as the physicians generalize them. He gave a yell that could -be heard through the whole regiment as the acrid, biting tobacco-juice -struck a thousand little punctures in his skin inside of a second. -Everybody rushed up to see what was the matter, and stood around, -laughing and commenting, while scratching and slapping at their own -colonies of tormentors. Then Shorty began the most vehement stream of -profanity, and showered maledictions on everything in the State of -Tennessee, which was only a breeding place for fleas, woodticks, -jiggers, graybacks, niggers, rebels, traitors, bushwhackers, guerrillas, -thieves, robbers and murderers, and other spawn of Jeff Davisism. -Presently he grew violently sick at the stomach, turned deathly white, -and fainted. Frightened, Si rushed for the Surgeon. - -"Only tobacco poisoning," said the latter, after he had looked Shorty -over carefully. "You made that solution too strong, and the lot of -little punctures took it directly into his circulation. You might have -killed him if you had made it stronger, or got more of it on him. I -never saw such rapscallions as you boys are. You are always trying to -kill yourselves or one another, in spite of all that I can do or tell -you. A man that's Surgeon of this regiment has to earn his money, I tell -you. He will come out all right pretty soon, only he will be very weak. -I'll send you down some whisky to give him." - -"Real old rye, Doctor?" said Shorty, very faintly, and opening his eyes -feebly. "None of your Commissary stuff. This is a powerful bad case, and -I need the best." - -"You shall have it," laughed the Surgeon. "I know you. You are all right -when you are all right. But you won't be able to march with the column -to-day. I'll give you an excuse from duty. And you (to Si) had better -stay with him. I'll speak to your Captain." - -The bugles were sounding the "assembly" every where, and the men, -slapping and scratching as if they would tear their flesh and their -clothes off, were hastily swallowing their last mouthfuls of hot coffee -and bread and pork, snatching up their guns and blankets and falling in. - -"Shelbyville is only six miles away," said the Orderly-Sergeant as he -lined up Co. Q, and clawed around his clothes at his persecutors. -"There'll be a circus to-day, and no postponement on account o' the -weather. It'll either be the gol-darnedest fight that the 200th Injianny -Volunteers ever got into or the cussedest foot-race that ever wuz run. -Here, Biles, consarn you, leave that fire and your munching, and fall -in. You're like a cow's tail always behind." - -Shorty made a violent effort to rise up and join the company, but he was -manifestly too weak. Si was in sore distress. He didn't want to leave -him, but he was anxious to be with his company. - -"Corporal Klegg," said the Captain, coming down the line, and giving a -frequent furtive scratch at himself, "Shorty can't possibly go with us -to-day. I'm awfully sorry, but there is no use talking about it. You -must stay behind and take care of him, and take care of these sore- -footed men who will be unable to keep up. The Colonel orders you to -command the whole outfit. You keep them together, keep up as well as you -can, and if you see any place that you can be useful, go in. I know and -the Colonel knows that you can be trusted to do that." - -This made Si more reconciled to being left behind, and he mentally -resolved that, though he might not be with his beloved regiment, he -would manage to do his full share in the impending battle for -Shelbyville. - -The "Second Lieutenant and Aid-de-Camp" came up. It was noticed in the -distance that he was suffering from the same causes as the others, but -as soon as he came into the immediate presence of the men his official -dignity asserted itself, he refrained from nervous pursuit of his -verminiferous assailants, and walking stiffly up to the Colonel, -saluted, and said: - -"Colonel, I came to report the conduct of a couple of your men who came -under my command night before last, and who, while doing very well in -some respects, were so grossly disrespectful to me that they should be -given a sharp lesson. Unless this is done, it will tend to impair -discipline and diminish the respect which men should show officers." - -The Colonel looked straight at the young officer, and noticed an -unusually large insect emerge from his collar and walk deliberately up -his neck onto his cheek. It must have been intensely annoying, but -dignity triumphed, and the Lieutenant stood stiffly as a ramrod. - -"I'm very sorry to hear that any of my men should seem wanting in -respect to their officers," said the Colonel quietly, as he "attended -to" a wicked flea which was breakfasting off his wrist. "I can hardly -believe it. I have the most obedient and respectful men in the whole -army. I'm afraid you did something that provoked, if it did not justify, -disrespectful conduct." - -The Lieutenant would have been different from the rest of the army if he -had not been very short of temper that morning. The pangs that he was -compelled to endure without the relief of scratch ing made him still -more irritable, and he forgot him self sufficiently to answer: - -"I beg your pardon, sir, but you are in error when you represent your -men to be respectful and subordinate. On the contrary, they are the most -lacking in that of any men in the army. I am constantly yelled at by -them as I pass, and they say very insulting things to me. I'm determined -to put a stop to it, and I want you to begin with those two men. If you -don't I shall make a strong report on the subject to the General, which -may lead to your being placed under arrest." - -"Young man," said the Colonel severely, as he calmly exterminated -another one of his tormentors, "you are so infested with vermin that I -can see them crawling out from your clothes. It is an insult to me to -have you appear before me in such a condition. Get out of here at once, -and never approach me again in such a condition, or I shall be compelled -to deal with you as you deserve." - -The Lieutenant marched away, holding himself more stiffly than ever, and -the Colonel walked to ward the other flank of the regiment, looking so -cross that no one dared give the laugh he was bursting with until he had -mounted his horse and shout ed the command, "Forward!" - -The rain actually ceased, and the sun came out for the first time in 10 -long days; from miles to the right and left came sounds of infantry and -artillery firing, gradually swelling in volume. Under these exciting -influences, aided, perhaps, by a really fine article of whisky, which -the Surgeon had left, Shorty rapidly recovered, picked up his gun, threw -his blanket-roll over his shoulders, and announced his eagerness to move -forward. The sore-footed men began to feel that their feet were not -really as sore as they had thought, and they also hobbled forward. The -road by which they had camped led straight to Shelbyville, and they felt -that by following it they would have the best chance of getting into the -fight. The road was filled with cavalry, and Si and his squad worked -their way through the woods to the right to get up nearer the front and -find an infantry line. - -"What in the world are they doin' with all these cavalry here?" said -Shorty fretfully. "They can't do nothin' agin the mud forts and big guns -and miles o' breastworks and abatis and felled timber that the rebels -'ve bin puttin' out in front of Shelbyville for the last six months. -Horses are only in the way for sich work. They must 'v'e put the cavalry -back here to be safe, while the infantry does the work. We'll git in -ahead o' the 'critter-companies' somewhere and find the dough-boys." - -At last they came out on a hill which commanded a view of the country, -and halted, with an exclamation of delight at the magnificant sight -spread out before hem. The sun was now half-way up in the sky, and -shining with a brightness which seemed divine after the long period of -drenching showers. Its light was reflected in brilliance from thousands -of sabers and accouterments and the waving of flags of the cavalry -divisions which filled the country as far as the eye could reach. -Ascending the slope at the farther side of the valley was a skirmish- -line, two miles long, of dismounted cavalry men, from which rose -wreathes of smoke as it pressed steadily forward up the hill against the -rebels ensconced there. In the green fields on either side of the road, -and in the road itself, were regiments and brigades of horsemen, massed -up solidly, impatiently waiting for the progress of the skirmishers to -bring about the moment when they could be hurled against the enemy in a -mighty avalanche of war. Bugles were sounding, flags flying, and all was -intense, high-wrought, exciting animation. - -The boys gave a cheer of exultation at the sight. Suddenly two little -regiments separated themselves from the rest, drew sabers, and, with -bugles sounding the charge and the men yelling, rode straight at the -infantry and the batteries defending the crest of the hill. The rebels -broke before the cavalry could reach them, and began a wild flight, with -infantry, cavalry and artillery mixed in wild confusion, and our -horsemen swooping down on them, capturing horses, men and cannon. - -On everybody swept until the crest was gained which commanded a view of -Shelbyville and its famous intrenchments. From these cannon thundered -out, and long lines of infantry could be seen hurrying into the works to -repel the audacious horsemen. Si and Shorty held their breaths, for it -seemed that nothing but destruction awaited the cavalry in those -awfully-planned defenses. But the cavalry thundered on with a headlong -speed. Artillery galloped up on our side, to answer that in the works, -and the boys lost speech in amazement at seeing the horsemen tear -through the wide abatis and jump the high breastworks, while the -defenders streamed back in rout into Shelbyville, pursued every step -with yell and blow by the furious cavalry. Then came the noise of -terrible fighting in the streets of Shelbyville. Jo Wheeler was massing -every cannon that could be brought up to him in a desperate effort to -hold the town, at least, until Forrest could come to his help, or he -could make an orderly retreat across Duck River. But, bitterly as he -fought, the Union troopers fought still more savagely. They simply would -not allow the thought of successful resistance, and wave after wave of -fierce charges followed so rapidly that Wheeler's men broke and fled for -safety into and across the river. - -The boys yelled themselves hoarse as they saw the stream of rebel -fugitives pour across the river and seek safety in the country beyond. - -"Well, Shelbyville is ours at last, after all this waiting and marching -and manuvering," said Si, in a tone of intense exultation. "And the -cavalry took it. Wish it had been the 200th Injianny Volunteers. I've -always looked down on the cavalry, but I won't do so any more. I wish -the 200th Injianny was mounted. My gracious, wasn't it grand the way -those fellers just galloped over everything in sight breastworks, forts, -batteries, felled timber, and lines of infantry." - -"Yes," assented Shorty. "I wouldn't 've missed the sight for the best -farm in the Wabash bottoms. It was worth marching 10 days in the mud and -rain to see." - -"Here, Corporal," said a Cavalry Lieutenant, riding up, "I want you to -take charge of these prisoners with your squad, so we can go back and -get some more. The woods are full of them. I'll make out a receipt for -you to sign. I think there's just 100 of them. Count them over for -yourself." - -"Sure," said Si, springing forward. - - - - - -CHAPTER VII. THE EXCITING ADVANCE TULLAHOMA THE GREAT BATTLE THAT DID -NOT COME OFF. - -"DON'T yo'uns crow too much over gittin' Shelbyville," the prisoners -said to Si. "Yo'uns couldn't never 've got hit in the world if Jinerul -Bragg hadn't a'wanted yo'uns to." - -"O, come off," said Shorty. "You tried your best to keep us from gittin' -in. You put up a very pretty little fight, but our cavalry jest rode -over you." - -"Thar wuz nobody thar but Jo Wheeler and his critter company," persisted -the prisoners, "and they'd fout for anything. They'd fout yo'uns for a -chaw of terbacker, and then gin the chaw back. Ole Bragg wuz jist a- -foolin' with yo'uns. He wuz drawin' yo'uns on. He made up his mind that -Shelbyville wuzn't the best place for a fout, and he'd lay for yo'uns at -Tullyhomy. He's got his whole army together down thar, and he'll wollop -yo'uns till your hides won't hold shucks. Ole Bragg's smarter'n ary -Yankee that ever lived, and he's fixed up a dead-fall for yo'uns at -Tullyhomy that'll mash yo'uns flatter'n a pancack." - -"Let him go ahead with his mashin' flat," answered Shorty; "we're some -on the mash ourselves, as you fellers found out at Stone River." - -"We'uns 'd 'a' welted the life outen yo'uns at Stone River, if we'uns 'd -had jest a few more men; ez hit wuz we'uns run yo'uns all over them 'ere -old cotton-fields fur two days, tuk all yo'uns's cannon, an' more'n a -million prisoners. Fust night I done thought we'uns 'd tuk the whole -Yankee army. We'uns done got tired pickin' up prisoners in them ceders -an' sink-holes, an' concluded t' leave the rest thar fur seed. We'uns -jest f'arly wore ourselves out lickin' yo'uns, an' then yo'uns got a -whole passel 'o fresh men, an' we'uns jest pulled back t' Shelbyville t' -rest, spit on we'uns' hands an' take a fresh holt." - -"How about the last day," inquired Si, "over the river on the left, when -we tore you all to flinders with artillery, and run you back over the -hill and took your guns?" - -"O, that wuz Breckinridge's Division," said the prisoners, negligently, -as if dismissing a matter of little consequence. "They'uns desarved all -they'uns got. They'uns wus sent for t' come over and help we'uns lick -yo'uns the fust two days, but they'uns wouldn't come. I'm jest glad -they'uns kotched hit good an' hard ez they'uns done got hit. But we'uns -'s now got heaps more men than we'uns had at Stone River, an' they're -all together over thar by Tullyhomy. Lordy, you jest orter seed 'em az I -did. I wuz on the top of a mounting on gyard, whar I could see for a -hundred miles in every direction, an' I seed men marchin' toward -Tullyhomy till my eyes ached a-lookin' at 'em. Yo'uns 'll stir up a -mouty sight wuss hornets' nest at Tullyhomy than yo'uns did at -Murfreesboro. - -"Well, we'll knock seven kinds o' brimstone out o' your hornets' nest, -big as it may be," answered Shorty. "The more o' you there is the -better, for we kin finish up the job then, and be done with it, instid -o' havin' to run you down an' knock you on the head one at a time. We've -more men, too, than we had at Stone River. There was enough of us -before, but Old Abe just gethered up the men in three or four new -States, and sent 'em down to us to help make a clean, quick job of it. -All we want of you fellers is jest to stand up and give us a square -fight. We're no grayhounds, to run you fellers down. We came down here -to fight, not to trot races with you. - -"Well, yo'uns'll git yer bellyful o' foutin' over by Tullyhomy," shouted -back the prisoners as they were marched away under guard. - -"It certainly does look like we're to have a bigger scrimmage than we -had at Stone River," said Si, as he and Shorty were once more alone. -"Our army is much larger, and it's all been gathered right around here. -There's bin great rivers of men pouring through all these gaps for days, -and we've talked with fellers from every division and brigade in the -army. There's entirely too many men around here for the country to hold. -Something's got to bust soon, and when it does bust there'll be an -explosion like that you read about." - -"Well, let her bust," answered Shorty. "The sooner the better. I want to -see it right off. It's got to come before the war kin end, and for my -part I don't want to march a step further to find it. They can't nohow -git up a worse time than we had at Stone River, and we managed to live -through that; so that I guess we kin pull through another. If we don't, -this 's just as good a place to go to Heaven from as we kin find, and -we'll save a whole lot o' worry by finishin' up now." - -"Well," said Si, "let's git back to the regiment as soon's possible. THe -battle may begin at any minute, and we musn't be away. We'd never -forgive ourselves as long's we'd live if we wasn't with the boys when -they line up under the colors for the great tussle." - -"Getting to the regiment" was tedious and hard. Shorty was still very -weak from his tobacco experiment, and Si had worked almost to exhaustion -in helping his sore-footed squad along. These were as eager to get back -to the regiment in time for the fight, and Si had not the heart to leave -any one of them behind. The roads were filled with teams being pushed -forward with ammunition and rations, and every road and path crowded -with men hurrying to the "front." They were on the distant flank of -their corps when they started out in the morning, and did not succeed in -reaching the rear of their own division until nightfall. Though worn out -by the day's painful tramping and winding around through the baffling -paths between regiments, brigades and divisions, sometimes halting and -some times moving off suddenly and unexpectedly, they nerved themselves -for one more effort to reach the 200th Ind. before they lay down for the -night. But the night was far harder than the day. The whole country was -full of campfires, around which were men' cooking their supper, standing -in groups, pipe in mouth, anxiously discussing the coming momentous -battle, and the part their regiments would likely play in it, or sitting -writing what they felt might be their last letters home. All were -unutterably tired, and all earnestly thoughtful over the impending -conflict. None felt ordinarily jovial, communicative and sympathetic -with foot-sore stragglers trying to find their regiments. Even when they -were, the movements and changes during the day had been so bewildering -that their best-intentioned directions were more likely to be wrong than -right. - -"The 200th Ind.," they would say; "yes, we saw the 200th Ind. about the -middle of the afternoon, right over there on that hillside, where you -see that old tree blazing up. They were acting as if they were going -into camp, and I expect that's their campfires you see there." - -Si, Shorty and the rest would make their weary way to the point -indicated, about a half-mile distant, only to find that their regiment -had been sighted at another point a mile away in a different direction. - -The morning of July 1, 1863, was almost ready to break when they at last -came up with their regiment, and flung themselves down on the ground in -absolute exhaustion. Worn out as they were, their soldierly ears could -not be deaf to the stirring reveille which quickly followed the early -daybreak of that Summer morning, and summoned the regiment for the -final, decisive move upon the rebel stronghold of Tullahoma. - -Though every bone and muscle seemed to cry out against it, Si, Shorty -and their companions rose up promptly and joined the regiment. - -Everybody seemed sobered by the nearness of the terrible battle. Nobody -laughed, nobody swore, nobody joked, nobody played the usual light- -hearted reveille tricks. The Orderly-Sergeant did not call the roll with -his usual glibness and rasp. He seemed to linger a little over each -name, as if thinking whether it would be answered to again, or he be -there to call it. The officers gave the commands quietly, even gently. -The men executed promptly, carefully, and silently, as one sees things -done at a funeral or in church. A hasty breakfast was eaten in silence; -the men fell into ranks again, and there was a low buzz as the -cartridge-boxes were carefully inspected and each man supplied with his -full quota of ammunition. - -The Colonel mounted his horse, and gave the order, "Forward march," so -quietly that only the leading company heard it. It moved promptly, and -the others followed. - -The same strange soberness ruled the other regiments they passed on -their way to take the advance. There was for once no quip or jest from -the men standing by the roadside, leaning thoughtfully on their muskets, -and awaiting their turn to march. They merely watched them file by, with -steady, grave eyes and an occasional calm nod or quiet greeting to an -acquaintance. - -The hurrah, the swagger, the noisy effervescence of a few months ago had -disappeared from men who had learned to know what battle was. - -The dripping clouds cleared away as the 200th Ind. drew out into the -muddy road, and let the sun suddenly beam forth in full Midsummer power. -In an instant everybody was reeking with perspiration, panting for -breath, and scorching inwardly and outwardly. - -It was too much for some who had bravely maintained their places thus -far, and they had to sink by the roadside. - -Every minute of the first hour it seemed to Si and Shorty that they -could not go a rod farther, but at the end of every rod they made an -effort to go an other, and succeeded. The sun momentarily grew more -burning, but also it seemed that every step brought them nearer the -enemy, and the thought nerved them up to further exertion. Occasional -rippling shots from watching parties of the rebel cavalry helped -stimulate them. - -Noon passed. They were so near the works of Tullahoma that the collision -might come at any minute could not be postponed many minutes. The -regiments left the road and went into line-of-battle, stretching a long -wave of blue through the deep green of the thick forests. How far it -reached no one could tell. Occasional glimpses obtained through the -openings in the woods showed miles of length. - -Everything was deeply quiet, except occasional startling crashes from -rebel outposts and the distant booming of cannon on the left. - -The 200th Ind. was advancing through a heavy growth of jack-oaks. - -Lines of rebel skirmishers had occasionally appeared in front of the -regiment, fired a few shots, and then disappeared. The ease with which -they were driven gave the impression that they were trying to lead the -regiment into ambush, and it moved slowly and very watchfully. - -At last, as the hot sun was beginning to sink in the far west, the -regiment came to the edge of the young jack-oaks, and saw before it a -sight which thrilled every heart. - -There, a little distance away, lay the formidable works guarding -Tullahoma. To the right and left, as far as the eye could reach, -stretched a bristling line of abatis hundreds of yards wide and -seemingly hopelessly impassable. It was made of the young jack-oaks -felled outwards and their limbs sharp ened till they were like thorns. - -Frowning behind this fearsome barrier were high-rising forts mounted -with cannon, and connected with long, sinuous breastworks. A deep ditch -filled with muddy water ran along the foot of the works. - -Squads of rebels could be seen running back to the shelter of the -fortifications. Every man in the regiment gave a quick, involuntary gasp -as he saw his work before him. - -The whole of the long line was halted and carefully dressed by the -officers, still speaking as softly and kindly as if arranging a funeral -procession, and the men stepping into places promptly, and with a tender -solemnity of manner. There was none of the customary rude jostling and -impatient sharpness. It was: - -"You'll have to give away to the left a little, John; I haven't room." - -"Come out there, boys, on the right. You're too far back." - -"Jim, you'd better fall in behind. I don't believe you're strong enough -to keep up." - -Even the brash young "Second Lieutenant and Aid-de-Camp" seemed -impressed with the intense gravity of the moment. He came up to the -Colonel, and seeing he was on foot, respectfully dismounted, saluted, -and said, without a vestige of his usual pertness: - -"Colonel, the General presents his compliments, and says that the -battery is badly stuck in the mud a little ways back. As we shall need -it very much, he directs that you send a company to bring it up at -once." - -"Very good, sir," said the Colonel, gravely returning his salute, and -speaking as gently as at a tea-table. "It shall be done. Capt. -McGillicuddy, take your company back and bring up the battery." - -"Attention, Co. Q," suggested rather than commanded Capt. McGillicuddy. -"Stack arms. Corporal Klegg, you and your squad remain where you are. -You are too tired to do any good. Right face; file left; forward march." - -The Colonel mounted his horse, rode down to the center of the regiment, -and said, in a tone hardly raised above the conversational, but which -made itself distinctly heard by every man: - -"Fix bayonets." - -There was an ominous crash of steel as the bright bayonets swept to -their places. - -"Men," continued the Colonel as quietly as if talk ing to a Sunday -school, "we're going to take those works with the bayonet. Keep -perfectly quiet; reserve your breath for quick, hard work, and pay close -attention to orders. We'll move in quick time to the edge of that -slashing of timber; every man make his way through it as best he can, -keeping as near his Captain as possible. As soon as through it he will -run with all his might for the works, fire his gun into the rebels as he -jumps the works, and then rely on his bayonet. No man must fire a shot -until we are crossing the works, and then I want every shot to fetch a -rebel." - -He waited a moment before giving the command to advance, for Co. Q, -which had snaked the battery out of the mudhole in a hurry, was coming -on a dead run in order to be on time for the charge. It snatched its -guns from the stacks, and lined up like a long flash of blue light. - -The artillerymen had lashed their jaded horses into a feverish run, -swept out into an open space, flung their guns "into battery," and -opened with a vicious bang on the rebel works. - -So far not a head appeared above the breastworks; not a shot from the -embrasures in the forts. - -"They're just laying low," whispered Si to Shorty, as they instinctively -brought their shoulders together and summoned their energies for the -swift advance. "They'll blaze out like the fires o' hell just as we git -tangled up in that infernal timber-slashin'." - -"Well," muttered Shorty, "we'll know mighty soon now. In five minutes -we'll either be in Heaven or bayoneting the rebels in that fort." - -"Battalion, forward march!" commanded the Colonel. - -The regiments to the right and left got the command at the same instant, -and the long wave of blue rolled forward without a break or fault in its -perfect alignment. - -A hundred yards were quickly passed, and still the rebel works were as -silent as a country churchyard. The suspense was fearful. Men bent their -heads as if in momentary expectation of being struck by a fearful blast. - -Another hundred yards. Still no bullet from the rifle-pits, no canister -from the forts. - -Another hundred yards, and they had struck the entangling abatis, and -were feverishly working their clothes loose from the sharp-pointed -limbs. - -"Capt. McGillicuddy," excitedly shouted Si, "there's no men in them -works. Didn't you see that flock o' blackbirds just settle down on that -fort?" - -"That's true," said the Captain, after a quick glance. "Colonel, they've -evacuated." - -A little to the left of the company Si saw a path through the abatis -made by the rebels taking short cuts in and out of the camp. He and -Shorty quickly broke their way to it, and ran in feverish haste to the -works. They found a puncheon laid to cross the ditch, ran over it, and -mounted the rifle-pit. There was not a man inside of the works. The last -of the garrison could be seen on the other side of Elk River, setting -fire to the bridge by which they had just crossed. - -Si and Shorty Were the First to Mount The Parapet. 91 - -Utterly exhausted by fatigue and the severe mental strain, Si and Shorty -could do nothing more than give a delighted yell, fire their guns at the -distant rebels, when they sank down in complete collapse. - -Almost at the same time the same discovery had been made at other points -in the long line moving to the assault; the inside of the works were -quickly filled with a mob of rushing men, who seemed to lift the clouds -with their triumphant yells. - -The campaign for Tullahoma was at an end. Bragg had declined battle, and -put the whole of his army out of reach of pursuit behind the swollen -waters of Elk River. - -That night by its cheerful campfires the exultant Army of the Cumberland -sang from one end of its long line to the other, with thousands of -voices joining at once in the chorus, its song of praise to Gen. -Rosecrans, which went to the air of "A Little More Cider." - -Cheer up, cheer up, the night is past, The skies with light are glowing. -Our ships move proudly on, my boys, And favoring gales are blowing. Her -flag is at the peak, my boys, To meet the traitorous faction. We'll -hasten to our several posts, And immediately prepare for action. - -Chorus. - -Old Rosey is our man. Old Rosey is our man. We'll show our deeds -where'er he leads, Old Rosey is our man. - - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. THE GLORIOUS FOURTH INDEPENDENCE DAY FUN ON THE BANKS OF -ELK RIVER. - -"THIS is the glorious Fourth of July," remarked Si, as Co. Q broke ranks -from reveille roll-call on the banks of Elk River, and he and Shorty -turned anxious attention to the problem of getting a satisfactory -breakfast out of the scanty materials at their command. "Up home they're -gittin' ready for a great time. Yesterday mother and the girls cooked -enough goodies to feed the whole company. Mother had Abe Lincoln split -up a lot o' fine, dry hickory. Then she het up the big brick oven out by -the Summer-kitchen, and she baked there a lot o' loaves o' her -splendiferous salt-raisin' bread, the best in the whole country, if I do -say it myself." - -"Resemble this, Si?" asked Shorty, who was pawing around in his shrunken -haversack, as he produced two dingy crackers and a handful of pieces, -discolored by contact with the coffee and meat during the days of -marching in the rain. - -"And, then," continued Si, unmindful of the interruption, "after she -took the bread out, smelling like a bouquet, she put in some biscuits, -and then some dressed chicken, a young pig." - -"Just like this," echoed Shorty, pulling out a rusty remnant of very fat -commissary pork. - -"Shet up, Shorty," said Si, angered at this reminder of their meager -store, which was all that was left them for the day, since they had far -out marched their wagons. "I won't have you makin' fun o' my mother's -cookin'." - -"Well, you shut up torturing me about home goodies," answered Shorty, -"when we hain't got enough grub here to fill one undivided quarter- -section o' one o' our gizzards, and there hain't no more this side o' -the wagons, which are stalled somewhere in the Duck River hills, and -won't be up till the katydids sing. I ain't making fun o' your mother's -cookin'. But I won't have you tormenting me with gas about the goodies -back home." - -"I know it ain't right, Shorty," said Si. "It only makes us feel worse. -But I can't help thinkin'—" - -"Jest go on thinkin'," sneered Shorty, "if you kin fill yourself up that -way. I can't. You'd better set to studyin' how to make less'n quarter -rations for one fill up two men for all day. There ain't no use goin' a- -foragin'. They call this country the Cumberland Barrens. There never was -grub enough in it to half support the clay-eaters that live around here, -and what there was the rebels have carried off. The only thing I kin -think of is to cut up some basswood chips and fry with this pork. Mebbe -we could make 'em soft enough to fill up on." And Shorty gloomily shook -out the last crumb from the haversacks into a tin of water to soak, -while he fried the grease out of the fragment of pork in his half- -canteen. - -"And Pap," continued Si, as if determined to banish famine thoughts by -more agreeable ones, "has had the trottin' team nicely curried, and -their manes and tails brushed out, and hitched 'em to that new -Studebaker-spring wagon he wrote about. They'll put all the good things -in, and then mother and the girls'll climb in. They'll go down the road -in great style, and pick up Annabel, and drive over to the Grove, where -they'll meet all the neighbors, and talk about their boys in the army, -and the Posey Brass Band'll play patriotic tunes, and old Beach -Jamieson'll fire off the anvil, and then Parson Ricketts'll put on his -glasses and read the Declaration o' Independence, and then some -politician young lawyer from Mt. Vernon or Poseyville 'll make a sky- -soaring, spread-eagle speech, and—" - -"O, do come off, Si," said Shorty irritably. "You're only making -yourself hungrier exercising your tongue so. Come here and git your -share o' the breakfast and mind you eat fair." - -Shorty had fried out the pork in the dingy, black half-canteen, poured -the soaked crackers into the sputtering hot grease, and given the mess a -little further warming and stirring. Then he pulled the half-canteen -from the split stick which served for a handle, set it on the ground, -and drew a line through it with his spoon to divide the food fairly into -equal portions.. - -Meanwhile Si had strolled over a little ways to where an old worm fence -had stood when the regiment went into camp. Now only the chunks at the -corners remained. He looked a minute, and then gave a yell of delight. - -"Here, Shorty," he called out; "here's something that beats your fried -breakfasts all holler. Here's ripe blackberries till you can't rest, and -the biggest, finest ones you ever saw. Come over here, and you can pick -all you can eat in five minutes." - -He began picking and eating with the greatest industry. Shorty walked -over and followed his example. - -"They are certainly the finest blackberries I ever saw," he agreed. -"Strange that we didn't notice them before. This country ain't no good -for nothin' else, but it surely kin beat the world on blackberries. Hi, -there! Git out, you infernal brute!" - -This latt'er remark was addressed to a long-legged, mangy hound that had -suddenly appeared from no where, and was nosing around their breakfast -with appreciative sniffs. Shorty made a dive for him, but he cleaned out -the half-canteen at one comprehensive gulp, and had put a good-sized -farm between him and the fire before Shorty reached it. That gentleman -fairly danced with rage, and swore worse than a teamster, but the -breakfast was gone beyond recovery. The other boys yelled at and gibed -him, but they were careful to do it at a safe distance. - -"'Twasn't much of a breakfast, after all, Shorty," said Si, consolingly. -"The crackers was moldly and the pork full o' maggots, and the Surgeon -has warned us time and again against eatin' them greasy fried messes. -All the doctors say that blackberries is very healthy, and they -certainly taste nice." - -Shorty's paroxysm of rage expended itself, and he decided it wisest to -accept Si's advice. - -"The berries is certainly fine, Si," he said with returning good humor. -"If I could've only laid a foundation of crackers and meat I could've -built a very good breakfast out of 'em. I misdoubt, though, whether -they've got enough substance and stick-to-the-ribs to make a meal out of -all by themselves. However, I'll fill up on 'em, and hope they'll last -till a grub-cart gets through. There ought to be one here before noon." - -"One consolation," said Si; "we won't have to march on this peck. The -Adjutant's just passed the word that we're to rest here a day or two." - -The rest of the regiment were similarly engaged in browsing off the -blackberries that grew in wonderful profusion all around, and were -really of extraordinary size. After filling themselves as full as -possible of the fruit, Si and Shorty secured a couple of camp kettles -and gave their garments a boiling that partially revenged themselves -upon the insect life of Tennessee for the torments they endured in the -Tullahoma campaign. - -"The better the day the better the deed," remarked Shorty, as he and Si -stood around the fire, clothed in nothing but their soldierly character, -and satisfiedly poked their clothes down in the scalding water. -"Thousands must die that one may be free from graybacks, fleas, and -ticks. How could be better celebrated the Fourth of July than by the -wholesale slaughter of the tyrants who drain the life-blood of freemen -and patriots? Now, that's a sentiment that would be fine for your orator -who is making a speech about this time to your folks in Injianny." - -By this time they were hungry again. The black berries had no staying -power in proportion to their filling qualities, and anxiously as they -watched the western horizon, no feet of the mules bringing rations had -been seen beautiful on the mountains. - -They went out and filled up again on blackberries, but these seemed to -have lost something of their delicious taste of those eaten earlier in -the morning. - -They went back, wrung out their clothes, and put them on again. - -"They'll fit better if they dry on us," remarked Shorty. "And I'm afraid -we'll warp, splinter and check if we are exposed to this sun any longer -after all the soakin' we've bin havin' for the past 10 days." - -Comfortably full abdominally, with a delicious sense of relief from the -fiendish insects, the sun shining once more brightly in the sky, and -elated over the brilliant success of the campaign, they felt as happy as -it often comes to men. - -The scenery was inspiring. Beyond Elk River the romantic Cumberland -Mountains raised their picturesque peaks and frowning cliffs into a -wondrous cloud-world, where the radiant sunshine and the pearly showers -seemed in endless struggle for dominion, with the bright rainbows for -war-banners. When the sunshine prevailed, filmy white clouds flags of -truce floated lazily from peak to peak, and draped themselves about the -rugged rocks. It was an ever-changing panorama of beauty and mystery, -gazing on which the eye never wearied. - -"Bragg's somewhere behind them mountains, Shorty," said Si, as the two -lay on the ground, smoked, and looked with charmed eyes on the sky line. -"The next job's to go in there and find him and lick him." - -"I don't care a durn, if it's only dry weather," answered Shorty. "I kin -stand anything but rain. I'd like to soldier awhile in the Sahara Desert -for a change. Hello, what's that? A fight?" - -A gun had boomed out loudly. The boys pricked up their ears, took their -pipes from their mouths and half raised in anticipation of the bugle- -call. An other shot followed after an interval, and then a third and -fourth. - -"They're firing a National salute at Division Headquarters in honor of -the Fourth of July," explained the Orderly-Sergeant. - -Everybody jumped to his feet and cheered - -Cheered for the Fourth of July; - -Cheered for the United States of America; - -Cheered for President Abraham Lincoln; - -Cheered for Maj.-Gen. Wm. S. Rosecrans. - -Cheered for the Army of the Cumberland; - -Cheered for the Corps Commander; - -Cheered for the Division Commander; - -Cheered for the Brigadier-General; - -Cheered for the Colonel of the 200th Ind.; - -Cheered for their Royal Selves. - -"Whew, how hungry that makes me," said Shorty as the cheering and the -firing ended, and he studied the western horizon anxiously. "And not a -sign yit of any mule-team comin' up from the rear. They must have -religious scruples agin travelin' on the Fourth o' July. Well, I s'pose -there's nothin' to do but hunt up some more blackberries. But -blackberries is like mush. They don't seem to stay with you much -longer'n you're eatin' 'em." - -But they had to go much farther now to find blackberries. The whole -hungry regiment had been hunt ing blackberries all day, and for more -than a mile around camp the briers were bare. Si and Shorty succeeded at -last in finding another plentiful patch, upon which they filled up, and -returned to camp for another smoke and an impatient look for the -Commissary teams. - -"I like blackberries as well as any other man," mused Shorty, "but it -don't seem to me that last lot was nearly so good as the first we had -this morning. Mebbe the birds kin eat 'em four times a day and seven -days in the week without gittin' tired, but I ain't much of a bird, -myself. I'd like to change off just now to about six big crackers, a -pound o' fat pork and a quart o' coffee. Wonder if the rebel cavalry -could've got around in our rear and jumped our trains? No; 'Joe -Wheeler's critter company,' as that rebel called 'em, hain't quit -runnin' yit from the lickin' Minty give 'em at Shelbyville. Mebbe the -mules have struck. I'd 'a' struck years ago if I'd bin a mule." - -The sun began to sink toward the western hills, and still no welcome -sign of coming wagons. - -Si remarked despairingly: - -"Well, after all the berry-eatin' I've done to-day I feel as holler as a -bee-gum. I don't believe any wagons'll git up to-night, and if we're -goin' to have any supper at all we'd better go out and pick it before it -gits too dark to see." - -They had to go a long distance out this time to find a good berry patch. -It was getting dark be fore they fairly began picking their supper. -Presently they heard voices approaching from the other side. They -crouched down a little behind the brier-clumps and listened. - -"Be keerful. The Yankee pickets must be nigh. Thar's their campfires." - -"Pshaw. Them fires is two miles away. Thar's no pickets fur a mile yit. -Go ahead." - -"No sich thing. Them fires ain't a mile off. - -"Their pickets are likely right along that 'ere ridge thar." - -"Bushwhackers," whispered Si, rising a little to reconnoiter. "One, two, -three, four, five, six on 'em. Sneakin' up to pick off our pickets. -What'd we better do?" - -"Only thing I kin think of," whispered Shorty back, feeling around for a -stick that would represent a gun, "is the old trick of ordering 'em to -surrender. It's an awful bluff, but we may work it this time. If they've -got any grit we needn't worry no more about rations. They'll git us." - -Si snatched up a piece of rail, and they sprang up together, shouting: - -"Halt! Surrender! Don't move a hand or we'll blow your heads off." - -"All right, Yank. We surrender. Don't shoot. We'uns 've bin a-huntin' -yo'uns to gin ourselves up. We'uns is tired o' the wah." - -The Bluff Worked 107 - -"The thunder you do," said Si in amazement. - -"Yes," said the leader, walking forward; "we'uns is plumb sick o' the -wah, and want t' take the oath and go home. 'Deed we'uns do." - -"Well, you liked to 've scared two fine young soldiers to death," -murmured Si under his breath. - -"Halt, there," called out the suspicious Shorty. - -"Don't come any nearer, or I'll fire. Stand still, and hold your guns -over your heads, till I send a man out to git 'em." - -The rebels obediently held their guns in the air. - -"Sergeant," commanded Shorty, "go forward and relieve the men of their -arms, while the rest of us keep 'em kivvered to prevent treachery and -gittin' the drop on us." - -Si went out and took the guns, one by one, from the hands of the men, -and made as good an examination as he could, hastily, to see that they -carried nothing else. - -"Lordy, Yank, if you only knowed how powerful glad we'uns is to git to -yo'uns, you wouldn't 'spicion us. We'uns 's nigh on to starved t' death. -Hain't had nothin' to eat but blackberries for days. And hit's bin -march, march, all the time, right away from we'uns's homes. Goramighty -only knows whar ole Bragg's a-gwine tuh. Mebbe t' Cuby. We'uns wuz -willin' t' fout fur ole Tennessee, but for nary other State. When he -started out o' Tennessee we'uns jest concluded t' strike out and leave -him. Lordy, Mister, hain't you got something t' eat? We'uns is jest -starvin' t' death. 'Deed we'uns is." - -"Awful sorry," replied Shorty, as he and Si gathered up the guns and -placed themselves behind the group. "But we hain't nothin' to eat -ourselves but blackberries, and won't have till our wagons git up, which -'ll be the Lord and Gen. Rosecrans only knows when. You shall have it -when we kin git it. Hello, the boys are cheerin'. That means a wagon's -got in. Skip out, now, at a quarter-hoss gait. They may gobble it all up -before we git there." - -Inspired by this, they all started for camp in quick-time. Shorty was -right in interpreting the cheering to mean the arrival of a ration- -wagon. - -When they reached Co. Q they found the Orderly-Sergeant standing over a -half-box of crackers. - -Around him was gathered the company in a petulant state of mind. - -"Cuss and swear, boys, all you've a mind to," he was saying, "if you -think that'll swell your grub. You know it won't. Only one wagon's come -up, and it had only a half-load. Our share in it is what you see here. I -figure that there's just about one cracker apiece for you, and as I call -your names you'll step up and get it. Don't swear at me. I've done the -best I could. Cuss the Tennessee mud and freshets in the cricks all you -want to, if you think that'll fill your crops, but let me alone, or I'll -bust somebody." - -"I've my opinion o' the glorious Fourth o' July," said Shorty, as he -nibbled moodily at his solitary cracker. "I'll change my politics and -vote for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas after this." - -"Well, I think that we've had a pretty fine Fourth," said the more -cheerful Si. "For once in my life I've had all the blackberries I could -eat, and otherwise it's a pleasant day. Them deserters gave me a cold -chill at first, but I'm glad we got 'em. There'll certainly be more -wagons up to-night, and to-morrow we'll have all we kin eat." - -And that night, for the first in 10 days, they slept under dry blankets. - - - - - -CHAPTER IX. A LITTLE EPISODE OVER LOVE LETTERS. - -HOW exuberantly bright, restful, and happy were those long July days on -the foothills of the Cumberland Mountains, after the fatigues and -hardships, the endless rains, the fathom less mud, the angry, swollen -streams, the exhaust ing marches, and the feverish anxieties of the -Tullahoma campaign. - -The insolent, threatening enemy had retreated far across the mountain -barrier. For the while he was out of reach of striking or being struck. -The long-delayed commissary-wagons had come up, and there was an -abundance to eat. The weather was delightful, the forests green, shady -and inviting, the scenery picturesque and inspiring, and every day -brought news of glorious Union victories, over which the cannon boomed -in joyful salutes and the men cheered themselves hoarse. Grant had taken -Vicksburg, with 25,000 prisoners, and chased Joe Johnston out of sight -and knowledge. Prentiss had bloodily repulsed Sterling Price at Helena. -Banks had captured Port Hudson, with 6,000 prisoners. The Mississippi -River at last "flowed unvexed to the sea." Meade had won a great victory -at Gettysburg, and Lee's beaten army was in rapid retreat to Virginia. -"The blasted old Southern Confederacy is certainly havin' its -underpinnin' knocked out, its j'ints cracked, and its roof caved in," -remarked Si, as the two boys lay under the kindly shade of a low-growing -jackoak, lazily smoked their pipes, and gazed contentedly out over the -far-spreading camps, in which no man was doing anything more laborious -than gathering a little wood to boil his evening coffee with. "'Tain't -fit to store brick-bats in now. By-and-by we'll go out and hunt up old -Bragg and give him a good punch, and the whole crazy shebang 'll come -down with a crash." - -"I only wish old Bragg wasn't of sich a retirin' nature," lazily -commented Shorty. "The shade o' this tree is good enough for me. I don't -want to ever leave it. Why couldn't he've waited for me, and we could've -had it out here, coolly and pleasantly, and settled which was the best -man! The thing' d bin over, and each feller could've gone about his -business." - -Both relapsed into silence as each fell into day dreams the one about a -buxom, rosy-cheeked little maiden in the Valley of the Wabash; the other -of one in far-off Wisconsin, whom he had never seen, but whom he -mentally endowed with all the virtues and charms that his warmest -imagination could invest a woman. Neither could see a woman without -thinking how inferior she was in looks, words or acts to those whose -images they carried in their hearts, and she was sure to suffer greatly -by the comparison. - -Such is the divinely transforming quality of love. - -Each of the boys had taken the first opportunity, after getting enough -to eat, a shelter prepared, and his clothes in shape and a tolerable -rest, to write a long letter to the object of his affections. Shorty's -letter was not long on paper, but in the time it took him to write it. -He felt that he was making some progress with the fair maid of Bad Ax, -and this made him the more deeply anxious that no misstep should thwart -the progress of love's young dream. - -Letter-writing presented unusual difficulties to Shorty. His training in -the noble art of penmanship had stopped short long before his sinewy -fingers had acquired much knack at forming the letters. Spelling and he -had a permanent disagreement early in life, and he was scarcely on -speaking terms with grammar. He had never any trouble conveying his -thoughts by means of speech. People had very little difficulty in -understanding what he meant when he talked, but this was quite different -from getting his thoughts down in plain black and white for the reading -of a strange young woman whom he was desperately anxious to please, and -desperately afraid of offending. He labored over many sheets of paper -before he got a letter that seemed only fairly satisfactory. One he had -rejected because of a big blot on it; second, because he thought he had -expressed himself too strongly; a third, because of an erasure and -unseemly correction; a fourth, because of some newborn suspicions about -the grammar and spelling, and so on. He thought, after he had carefully -gathered up all his failures and burned them, together with a number of -envelopes he had wrecked in his labor to direct one to Miss Lucinda -Briggs, Bad Ax, Wis., sufficiently neatly to satisfy his fastidious -taste. - -He carefully folded his letter, creasing it with a very stalwart thumb- -nail, sealed it, gave it a long inspection, as he thought how much it -was carrying, and how far, and took it up to the Chaplain's tent to be -mailed. - -Later in the afternoon a hilarious group was gathered under a large -cottonwood. It was made up of teamsters, Quartermaster's men, and other -bobtail of the camp, with the officers' servants forming the dark fringe -of an outer circle. Groundhog was the presiding spirit. By means best -known to himself he had become possessed of a jug of Commissary whisky, -and was dispensing it to his auditors in guarded drams to highten their -appreciation of his wit and humor. He had come across one of the nearly- -completed letters which Shorty had thrown aside and failed to find when -he burned the rest. Groundhog was now reading this aloud, accompanied by -running comments, to the great amusement of his auditors, who felt that, -drinking his whisky, and expecting more, they were bound to laugh -uproariously at anything he said was funny. - -"Shorty, that lanky, two-fisted chump of Co. Q, who thinks hisself a -bigger man than Gineral Rosecrans," Groundhog explained, "has writ a -letter to a gal away off somewhere up North. How in the kingdom he ever -come to git acquainted with her or any respectable woman 's more'n I kin -tell. But he's got cheek enough for anything. It's sartin, though, that -she's never saw him, and don't know nothin' about him, or she'd never -let him write to her. Of course, he's as ignorant as a mule. He -skeercely got beyant pot-hooks when he wuz tryin' to larn writin', an' -he spells like a man with a wooden leg. Look here: - -"'Mi Dere Frend.' Now, everybody knows that the way to spell dear is d- -e-e-r. Then he goes on: - -"'I taik mi pen in hand to inform u that Ime well, tho I've lost about -15 pounds, and hoap that u air injoyin' the same blessin." - -"Think o' the vulgarity o' a man writin' to a young lady 'bout his -losin' flesh. If a man should write sich a thing to my sister I'd hunt -him up and wollop the life outen him. Then he goes on: - -"'I aint built to spare much meat, and the loss of 15 pounds leaves -fallow lots in mi cloze. But it will grow it all back on me agin mitey -quick, as soon as we kin hav another protracted meetin' with the -Commissary Department.' - -"Did you ever hear sich vulgarity?" Groundhog groaned. "Now hear him -brag and use langwidge unfit for any lady to see: - -"'We've jest went throo the gosh-almightiest campane that enny army ever -done. It wuz rane and mud 48 ours outen the 24, with thunder and -litenin' on the side. We got wettern Faro's hosts done chasin' the Jews -throo 50 foot of Red See. But we diddent stop for that till we'd hussled -old Bragg outen his works, and started him on the keen jump for -Chattynoogy, to put the Cumberland Mountings betwixt us and him.' - -"Think o' the conceit o' the feller. Wants to make that gal believe that -he druv off Bragg a'most single-handed, and intends to foller him up and -kick him some more. Sich gall. Sich fellers hurts us in the opinion o' -the people at home. They make 'em think we're all a set o' blowhards. -But this aint nothin' to what comes next. He tries to honeyfugle the -gal, and he's as clumsy 'bout it as a brown b'ar robbin' a bee-hive. -Listen: - -"'mi dere frend, I can't tell you how happy yore letters maik me. I've -got so I look for the male a good dele more angshioussly than for the -grub wagon.' - -"Think o' a man sayin' grub to a lady," said Groundhog, in a tone of -deep disgust. "Awful coarse. A gentleman allers says 'peck,' or 'hash,' -or Vittels,' when he's speakin' to a lady, or before ladies. I licked a -man onct for sayin' 'gizzard-linen' before my mother, and gizzard-linin' -aint half as coarse as grub. But he gits softer'n mush as he goes on. -Listen: - -"'I rede every wun of 'em over till they're cleane wore out, and then I -save the pieces, bekaze they cum from u. I rede them whenever Ime alone, -and it seems to me that its yeres before another one comes. If I cood -make anybody feel as good by ritin' to 'em as u kin me Ide rite 'em -every day.' - -"Thar's some more of his ignorant spellin'," said Groundhog. "Everybody -but a blamed fool knows the way to spell write is w-r-i-g-h-t. I learnt -that much before I wuz knee-high to a grasshopper. But let me continner: - -"'I think Bad Ax, Wisconsin, must be the nicest plais in the world, -bekaze u live there. I woodent want to live anywhair else, and Ime -cummin up thar just as soon as the war is over to settle. I think of u -every our in the day, and—' - -"He thinks of her every hour. The idee," said Groundhog, with deep -scorn, "that sich a galoot as Shorty thinks of anything more'n a minute, -except triple-X, all-wool, indigo-dyed cussedness that he kin work off -on some other feller and hurt him, that he don't think's as smart as he -is. Think o' him gushin' out all this soft-solder to fool some poor -girl." - -"You infernal liar, you, give me that letter," shouted Si, bolting into -the circle and making a clutch at the sheet. "I'll pound your onery head -off en you." - -Si had come up unnoticed, and listened for a few minutes to Groundhog's -tirade before he discovered that his partner was its object. Then he -sprang at the teamster, struck him with one hand, and snatched at the -letter with the other. The bystanders instinctively sided with the -teamster, and Si became the center of a maelstrom of kicks and blows, -when Shorty, seeing his partner's predicament, bolted down the hill and -began knocking down every body in reach until he cleared a way to Si's -side. By this time the attention of the Sergeant of the Guard was -attracted, and he brought an energetic gun-barrel to the task of -restoring the reign of law and order. - -"How in thunder'd you come to git into a fracas with that herd o' -mavericks, Si?" asked Shorty, in a tone of rebuke, as the Sergeant was -rounding up the crowd and trying to get at who was to blame. "Couldn't -you find somebody on your own level to fight, without startin' a fuss -with a passel o' low-down, rust-eaten roustabouts? What's got into you? -Bin livin' so high lately that you had to have a fight to work off your -fractiousness? I'm surprised at you." - -"Groundhog' d got hold of a letter o' your'n to your girl up in -Wisconsin," gasped Si, "and was readin' it to the crowd. Here's a piece -of it." - -Shorty glanced at the fragment of torn paper in Si's hand, and a deep -blush suffused his sun-browned cheek. Then he gave a howl and made a -rush for Groundhog. - -"Here, let that man alone, or I'll make you," shouted the Sergeant of -the Guard. - -"Sergeant," said Si, "that rat-faced teamster had got hold of a letter -to his girl, and was reading it to this gang o' camp offal." - -"O," said the Sergeant, in a changed tone; "hope he'll baste the life -out of him." And he jumped in before a crowd that was showing some -disposition to go to Groundhog's assistance, sharply ordered them to -about-face, and drove them off before him. - -"Here, Sergeant," shouted the Officer of the Guard, who came running up; -"what are you fooling around with these fellows for? They're not doing -any thing. Don't you see that man's killing that team ster?" - -"Teamster had got hold of a letter to his girl," explained the Sergeant, -"and was reading it to these whelps." - -"O," said the Officer of the Guard in a different tone. "Run these -rascals down there in front of the Quartermaster's and set them to work -digging those stumps out. Keep them at it till midnight, without -anything to eat. I'll teach them to raise disturbances in camp." - - - - - -CHAPTER X. AFTER BRAGG AGAIN RESTFUL SUMMER DAYS END—THE UNION PEOPLE OF -EAST TENNESSEE. - -THOUGH every man in the Army of the Cumberland felt completely worn out -at the end of the Tullahoma campaign, it needed but a few days' rest in -pleasant camps on the foothills of the Cumberland Mountains, with plenty -of rations and supplies of clothing, to beget a restlessness for another -advance. - -They felt envious of their comrades of the Army of the Tennessee, who -had cornered their enemy in Vicksburg and forced him to complete -surrender. - -On the other hand, their enemy had evaded battle when they offered it to -him on the place he had himself chosen, had eluded their vigorous -pursuit, and now had his army in full possession of the great objective -upon which the eyes of the Army of the Cumberland had been fixed for two -years Chattanooga. - -It was to Chattanooga that Gen. Scott ultimately looked when he began -the organization of forces north of the Ohio River. It was to -Chattanooga that Gens. Anderson, Sherman and Buell looked when they were -building up the Army of the Ohio. It was nearly to Chattanooga that Gen. -Mitchel made his memorable dash after the fall of Nashville, when he -took Huntsville, Bridgeport, Stevenson and other outlying places. It was -for Chattanooga that the "Engine Thieves" made their thrilling venture, -that cost eight of their lives. It was to Chattanooga that Buell was -ordered with the Army of the Ohio, after the "siege of Corinth," and -from which he was run back by Bragg's flank movement into Kentucky. It -was again toward Chattanooga that Rosecrans had started the Army of the -Cumberland from Nashville, in December, 1862, and the battle of Stone -River and the Tullahoma campaign were but stages in the journey. - -President Lincoln wanted Chattanooga to relieve the sorely persecuted -Unionists of East Tennessee. Military men wanted Chattanooga for its -immense strategic importance, second only to that of Vicksburg. - -The men of the Army of the Cumberland wanted Chattanooga, as those of -the Army of the Potomac wanted Richmond, and those of the Army of the -Tennessee had wanted Vicksburg, as the victor's guerdon which would -crown all their marches, skirmishes and battles. - -But between them and Chattanooga still lay three great ranges of -mountains and a broad, navigable river. Where amid all these -fortifications of appalling strength would Bragg offer them battle for -the Confederacy's vitals? - -"I don't care what Bragg's got over there," said Si, looking up at the -lofty mountain peaks, as he and Shorty discussed the probabilities. "He -can't git nothing worse than the works at War Trace and Shelbyville, -that he took six months to build, and was just goin' to slaughter us -with. And if we go ahead now he won't have the rain on his side. It -looks as if it has set in for a long dry spell; the country 'll be so we -kin git around in it without trouble. If the walkin' only stays good -we'll find a way to make Mr. Bragg hump out of Chattanooga, or stay in -there and git captured." - -"Yes," assented Shorty, knocking the ashes out of his brierwood pipe, -and beginning to shave down a plug of bright navy to refill it, "and -I'll put old Rosey's brains and git-there agin all the mountains and -rivers and forts, and breastworks and thingama-jigs that Bragg kin git -up. Old Rosecrans is smarter any day in the week than Bragg is on -Sunday. He kin give the rebels cards and spades and run 'em out before -the fourth round is played. Only I hope he won't study about it as long -as he did after Stone River. I want to finish up the job in warm, dry -weather, and git home." - -And his eyes took on a far-away look, which Si had no difficulty -interpreting that "home" meant a place with a queer name in distant -Wisconsin. - -"Well," said Si reflectively, "old Rosecrans didn't study long after he -took command of us at Nashville, before plunking us squarely at the -Johnnies on Stone River. I think he's out for a fight now, and bound to -git it in short meter." - -But the impatient boys had to wait a long Summer month, until the -railroads to the rear could be repaired to bring up supplies, and for -the corn to ripen so as to furnish forage for the cavalry. - -But when, on the 16th of August, 1863, Rosecrans began his campaign of -magnificant strategy for the possession of Chattanooga, the 200th Ind. -had the supreme satisfaction of leading the advance up into the -mountains of living green to find the enemy and bring him to bay. - -A few days' march brought them up onto the Cumberland Plateau. They had -now left the country of big plantations with cottonfields, and come upon -one of small farms and poor people. Si, with a squad, had been marching -far ahead all day as an advance-guard. They had seen no rebels, but all -the same kept a constant and vigilant outlook for the enemy. They were -approaching a log house of rather better class than any they had seen -since ascending the mountain. As they raised the crest of a hill they -heard a horn at the house give a signal, which set them keenly alert, -and they pushed forward rapidly, with their guns ready. Then they saw a -tall, slender young woman, scarcely more than a girl, dart out of the -house and attempt to cross the road and open ground to the dense woods. -Si sprang forward in pursuit. She ran like a young deer, but Si was -swift of foot, and had taken the correct angle to cut her off. He caught -her flying skirts and then grasped her wrist. - -She Ran Like a Deer, But si Cut Her off 123 - -"Where are you goin', and what for?" he asked sternly, as he held her -fast and looked into her frightened eyes, while her breast heaved with -exertion and fear. - -"I ain't goin' nowhar, an' for nothin'," she an swered sullenly. - -"Yes you was, you young rebel," said Si. "You were goin' to tell some -sneakin' rebels about us. Where are they?" - -"Wa'n't gwine to do nothin' o' the kind," she answered between gasps for -breath. "I don't know whar thar's no rebels. Thought they'uns had all -done gone away down the mounting till I seed yo'uns." - -"Come, girl, talk sense," said Si roughly. "Tell me where those rebels -are that you was goin' to, and do it quick. Boys, look sharp." - -A tall, very venerable man, with long, snowy-white hair and whiskers -came hobbling up, assisting his steps with a long staff with a handle of -a curled and twisted ram's horn. - -"Gentlemen," he said, with a quavering voice, "I beg yo'uns won't harm -my granddaughter. She hain't done nothin' wrong, I'll sw'ar it, t' -yo'uns. We'uns 's for the Union, but that hain't no reason why we'uns -should be molested. We'uns 's peaceable, law-abidin' folks, an' ain't -never done nothin' agin the Southern Confederacy. All our neighbors -knows that. Ax any o' they'uns. If yo'uns must punish someone, take me. -I'm the one that's responsible for their Unionism. I've learned 'em -nothin' else sense they'uns wuz born. I'm a very old man, an' hain't -long t' live, nohow. Yo'uns kin do with me what yo'uns please, but for -my sake spare my innocent granddaughter, who hain't done nothin'." - -Si looked at him in amazement. It was no uncommon thing for people to -protest Unionism, but sincerity was written in every line of the old -man's face. - -"You say you're Union," he said. "If that's so, you've nothin' to fear -from us. We're Union soldiers. But what was that signal with the horn, -and where was this girl goin'?" - -"She blowed the horn at my orders, to inform my neighbors, and she wuz -gwine on an arrant for me. Whatever she done I ordered her to do. Yo'uns -kin visit hit all on my head. But hit wa'n't nothin' agin yo'uns or the -Southern Confederacy." - -"I tell you we're Union soldiers," repeated Si. "Can't you tell that by -our clothes?" - -The old man's face brightened a little, but then a reminder of sorrowful -experience clouded it again. - -"I've never seed no Union soldiers," said he. "The rebels come around -here dressed all sorts o' ways, and sometimes they pretend to be Union, -jest to lay a snare for we'uns. They'uns all know I'm Union, but I'm too -old t' do 'em harm. Hit's my neighbors they'uns is arter. But, thank -God, they'uns 's never kotched any o' them through me." - -"I tell you we're genuine, true-blue Union soldiers from Injianny, -belong to Rosecrans's army, and are down here to drive the rebels out o' -the country. There, you kin see our flag comin' up the mountain." - -The old man shaded his eyes with his hand, and looked earnestly at the -long line of men winding up the mountain-side. - -"I kin see nothin' but a blue flag," said he, "much the same as some o' -Bragg's rijimints tote." - -Si looked again, and noticed that only the blue regimental flag was -displayed. - -"Wait a minnit, I'll convince him," said Shorty, and running down the -mountain he took the marker from the right guide of the regiment, and -presently came back waving it proudly in the sunshine. - -The old man's face brightened like a May day, and then his faded eyes -filled with joyful tears as he exclaimed: - -"Yes, thank Almighty God, that's hit. That's the real flag o' my -country. That's the flag I fit under with ole Jackson at New Orleans. I -bless God that I've lived to see the day that hit's come back." - -He took the flag in his hands, fondly surveyed its bright folds, and -then fervently kissed it. Then he said to his granddaughter: - -"Nance, call the boys in, that they'uns's may see thar friends 've come -at last." - -Nance seemed to need no second bidding. She sped back to the porch, -seized the long tin horn and sent mellow, joyful notes floating far over -the billowy hills, until they were caught up by the cliffs and echoed -back in subdued melody. - -"Don't be surprised, gentlemen, at what yo'uns 'll see," said the old -man. - -Even while the bugle-like notes were still ringing on the warm air, men -began appearing from the most unexpected places. They were all of the -same type, differing only in age from mere boys to middle-aged men. They -were tall, raw-boned and stoop-shouldered, with long, black hair, and -tired, sad eyes, which lighted up as they saw the flag and the men -around it. They were attired in rude, home spun clothes, mostly ragged -and soiled, and each man carried a gun of some description. - -They came in such numbers that Si was startled. He drew his men -together, and looked anxiously back to see how near the regiment had -come. - -"I done tole yo'uns not t' be surprised," said the old man reassuringly; -"they'uns 's all right every one of 'em a true Union man, ready and -willin' t' die for his country. The half o' they'uns hain't got in yit, -but they'll all come in." - -"Yes, indeed," said one of the first of them to come in, a pleasant- -faced, shapely youth, with the soft down of his first beard scantily -fringing his face, and to whom Nancy had sidled up in an unmistakable -way. "We'uns 've bin a-layin' out in the woods for weeks, dodgin' ole -Bragg's conscripters and a-waitin' for yo'uns. We'uns 've bin watchin' -yo'uns all day yisterday, an' all this mornin', tryin' t' make out who -yo'uns rayly wuz. Sometimes we'uns thought yo'uns wuz Yankees, an' then -agin that yo'uns wuz the tail-end o' Bragg's army. All we'uns 's a-gwine -t' jine all yo'uns, an' fout for the Union." - -"Bully boys right sentiments," said Shorty enthusiastically. "There's -room for a lot o' you in this very regiment, and it's the best regiment -in the army. Co. Q's the best company in the regiment, and it needs 15 -or 20 fine young fellers like you to fill up the holes made by Stone -River and Tennessee rain and mud." - -"I'll go 'long with you, Mister Ossifer, if you'll take me," said the -youth, very shyly and softly to Si, whose appearance seemed to attract -him. - -"Certainly we'll take you," said Si, "if the Surgeon 'll accept you, and -I'll see that you're sworn in on the spot." - -"Nancy," said the youth diffidently to the girl, who had stood by his -side holding his hand during the whole conversation, "yo' done promised -yo'd marry me as soon's the Yankee soldiers done come for sure, and -they'uns 've done come, millions of 'em. Looky thar millions of 'em." - -He pointed to the distant hills, every road over which was swarming with -legions of blue. - -"Yes, Nate," said the girl, reddening, chewing her bonnet-strings to -hide her confusion, and stir ring up the ground with the toe of her -shoe, "I reckon I did promise yo' I'd marry yo' when the Yankee soldiers -done come for sure, and thar does seem t' be a right smart passel of 'em -done come already, with a heapin' more on the way. But yo' ain't gwine -t' insist on me keepin' my promise right off, air yo'?" - -And she took a bigger bite at her bonnet-strings and dug a deeper hole -with the toe of her shoe. - -"Yes, indeedy right off jest the minnit I kin find a preacher," replied -Nate, growing bolder and more insistent as he felt his happiness -approaching. "I'm a-gwine off t' the war with this gentleman's company -(indicating Si with a wave of his disengaged hand), and we must be -spliced before I start. Say, Mister Ossifer (to Si), kin yo' tell me -whar I kin find a preacher?" - -Si and Shorty and the rest were taking a deep interest in the affair. It -was so fresh, so genuine, so unconventional that it went straight to all -their hearts, and, besides, made a novel incident in their campaign. -They were all on the side of the would-be bridegroom at once, and -anxious for his success. The Adjutant had come up with the order that -they should stop where they were, for the regiment would go into camp -just below for the day. So they had full leisure to attend to the -matter. The Tennesseeans took only a modified interest, for the presence -of the Union army was a much more engrossing subject, and they preferred -to stand and gaze open-eyed and open-mouthed at the astonishing swarms -of blue-clad men rather than to pay attention to a commonplace mountain -wooing. - -"We have a preacher he's the Chaplain of the regiment," suggested Si. - -"Any sort of a preacher'll do for me," said Nate sanguinely, "so long 's -he's a preacher Hard Shell, Free Will, Campbellite, Winebrennarian, -Methodist, Cumberland Presbyterian and kind, so long 's he's a -regularly-ordained preacher, 'll do for me. Won't hit for you, honey?" - -"Granddad's a Presbyterian," she said, blushing, "and I'd rather he'd be -a Presbyterian. Better ax granddad." - -Nate hurried over to the grandfather, who was so deeply engrossed in -talking politics, the war, and the persecutions the East Tennesseeans -had endured at the hands of the rebels with the officers and soldiers -gathered around that he did not want to be bothered with such a -comparatively unimportant matter as the marriage of a granddaughter. - -"Yes, marry her any way you like, so long as you marry her honest and -straight," said he impatiently to Nate. Then, as Nate turned away, he -explained to those about him: "That's the 45th grandchild that I've had -married, and I'm kind o' gittin used t' hit, so t' speak. Nate and her -'ve bin keepin' company and courtin' ever sense they wuz weaned, an' bin -pesterin' the life out o' me for years t' let 'em git jined. Sooner -hit's done the better. As I wuz sayin', we'uns give 80,000 majority in -Tennessee agin Secession, but ole Isham Harris" etc. - -"I'll speak to the Adjutant about it," said Si, when Nate came back -glowing with gladness. - -The young Adjutant warmly approved the enlistment proposition, and was -electrified by the idea of the marriage. - -"I'll go and talk to the Colonel and the Chaplain about it. Why, it'll -be no end of fun. We'll fix up a wedding-supper for them, have the band -serenade them, and send an account of it home to the papers. You go and -get them ready, and I'll attend to the rest. Say, I think we'd better -have him enlisted, and then married afterward. That'll make it a -regimental affair. You take him down to Capt. McGillicuddy, that he may -take him before the Surgeon and have him examined. Then we'll regularly -enlist him, and he'll be one of us, and in the bonds of the United -States before he is in the bonds of matrimony. It'll be the first -marriage in the regiment, but not the first one that is ardently -desired, by a long shot." - -The Adjutant gave a little sigh, which Si could not help echoing, and -Shorty joined in. - -"Well, our turns will come, too, boys," said the Adjutant with a laugh, -"when this cruel war is over." And he whistled "The Girl I Left Behind -Me" as he rode back to camp. - -The Surgeon found Nathan Hartburn physically sound, the oath was duly -administered to the young recruit, and he made his mark on the -enlistment papers, and was pronounced a soldier of the United States, -belonging to Co. Q, 200th Ind. He had been followed through all these -steps by a crowd of his friends, curious to see just what was the method -of "jinin' the Union army," and when Co. Q received its new member with -cheers and friendly congratulations the others expressed their eagerness -to follow his example. - -Co. Q was in a ferment over the wedding, with everybody eager to do -something to help make it a grand success, and to fill the hearts of the -other companies with envy. The first and greatest problem was to provide -the bridegroom with a uniform in which to be married. The -Quartermaster's wagons were no one knew exactly where, but certainly a -day or more back on the road, and no one had started out on the campaign -with any extra clothing. Shorty, who considered himself directly -responsible for the success of the affair, was for awhile in despair. He -was only deterred from stealing a pair of the Colonel's trousers by the -timely thought that it would, after all, be highly improper for a -private to be wearing a pair of pantaloons with a gold cord. Then he -resolved to make a sacrifice of himself. He was the nearest Nate's -proportions of any man in the company, and he had drawn a new pair of -trousers just before starting on the march. They had as yet gotten very -slightly soiled. He went to the spring and laboriously washed them until -they were as bright as new, and, after they were dried, insisted on Nate -trading pantaloons with him. A new blouse was more readily found, and as -readily contributed by its owner. Si freely gave up his sole extra -shirt, and another donated a pair of reserve shoes. The Adjutant came in -with a McClellan cap. When the company barber cut Nate's long hair, and -shaved him, he was arrayed in his wedding uniform, and as Si had given -him a little drill in holding him self erect, he was as presentable a -soldier as could be found in the regiment, and quite as proud of himself -as the boys of Co. Q were of him. Then an other despairing thought -struck Shorty: - -"'Tain't right," he communed with Si and the rest, "that the bridegroom -should have all the good clothes. The bride should have the boss togs o' -the two. If we was only back near Nashville she should have a layout -that'd out-rag the Queen o' Sheby, if it took every cent there was in -the company. But I don't suppose you could buy a yard o' kaliker or a -stitch o' finery within 50 miles o' this clayknob." - -"What we might do," said Si reflectively, "would be to give her her -trowso futuriously, so to speak. We've just bin paid off, and hain't had -no chance to spend our money, so that all the boys has some. Every one -o' 'em 'll be glad to give a dollar, which you kin hand her in a little -speech, tellin' her that we intended to present her with her trowso, but -circumstances over which we had no control, mainly the distance to a -milliner shop, prevented, but we would hereby present her with the means -to git it whenever convenient, and she could satisfy herself much better -by picking it out her ownself. You want to recollect that word trowso. -It's the elegant thing for a woman's wedding finery, and if you use it -you'll save yourself from mentioning things that you don't know nothin' -about, and probably oughtn't to mention. My sisters learned it to me. A -girl who'd bin at boarding-school learned them." - -"Good idee," said Shorty, slapping his leg. "I'll go right out and -collect a dollar from each of the boys. Say that word over agin, till I -git it sure." - -Shorty came back in a little while with his hands full of greenbacks -"Every boy ponied right up the moment I spoke to him," he said. "And the -Captain and Adjutant each gave $5. She's got money enough to buy out the -best milliner shop in this part o' Tennessee." - -Next came thoughts of a wedding-supper for the bride's friends. The -Colonel took the view that the large number of recruits which he -expected to gain justified him in ordering the Commissary to issue a -liberal quantity of rations. Two large iron wash-kettles were scoured -out one used to make coffee in and the other to boil meat, while there -was sugar and hardtack in abundance. The mountains were covered with -royal blooms of rhododendron, and at the Adjutant's suggestion enough of -these were cut to fill every nook and corner of the main room of the -house, hiding the rough logs and dark corners with masses of splendid -color, much to the astonish ment of the bride, who had never before -thought of rhododendrons as a feature of house adornment. - -Then, just before 6 o'clock roll-call, Co. Q, with every man in it -cleaned up as for dress-parade, with Nathan Hartburn at the head, -supported on either side by Si and Shorty, and flanked by the Adjutant -and Chaplain, marched up the hill to the house, led by the fifers and -drummers, playing the reveille, "When the Cruel War is Over," "Yankee -Doodle," and everything else in their limited repertory which they could -think as at all appropriate to the occasion. The rest of the regiment, -with most of the officers, followed after. - -The Chaplain took his place in front of the rhododendron-filled -fireplace. The bride and groom stood before him, with Si and Shorty in -support. All of Co. Q crowded into the room, and the rest looked through -the windows and doors. The Chaplain spoke the words which made the young -couple man and wife, and handed them a certificate to that effect. -Shorty then advanced, with his hand full of greenbacks, and said: - -"Missis Hartburn: Co. Q of the 200th Ind., of which you are now a brevet -member, has appointed me to present their congratulations. We extend to -you the right hand of fellership of as fine a crowd o' soldiers as ever -busted caps on any field of battle. We're very glad to have your young -husband with us. We'll take care of him, treat him right, and bring him -back to you crowned with the laurels of victory. You just bet your life -we will. That's our way o' doin' things. Madam, Co. Q very much wished -to present you with a trou— trou— tro— what is that blamed word, Si?" - -"Trowso," whispered Si— - -"with a trowso," continued Shorty, "but circumstances and about 150 mile -o' mud road over which we have no control prevented. To show, though, -that we really meant business, and ain't givin' you no wind, we have -collected the skads for a regular 24-carat trow— trous— trows— trou— -tro— (blamed the dinged word, what is it, Si?)" - -"Trowso," prompted Si - -"for a regler 24-carat trowso which I have the pleasure o' putting in -your lily-white hands, at the same time wishin' for the company, for you -and your husband, all happiness and joy in your married 'life. No more, -from yours truly." - -Shorty's brow was beaded with perspiration as he concluded this -intellectual effort and handed the bride the money, which she accepted, -as she had done everything else on that eventful day, as some thing that -she was expected to do. The company applauded as if it had been a speech -by Daniel Webster, and then the supper-table was attacked. - -Then came pipes, and presently the brigade band came over and serenaded. -A fiddle was produced from somewhere, and a dance started. Suddenly came -the notes of a drum in camp. - -"Early for tattoo, ain't it?" said they, looking inquiringly at one -another. - -"That's no 'tattoo," said Shorty; "that's the long roll. Break for camp, -everybody." - - - - - -CHAPTER XI. THE MOUNTAIN FOLK THE SHADOW OF AN EAST TENNESSEE VENDETTA. - -THE long roll turned out to be occasioned by the burning of a Union -Tennesseean's house by a squad of revengeful guerrillas, but the -regiment had to stay under arms until a party of cavalry went out and -made an investigation. The men stacked their arms, and lay around on the -ground to get what sleep was possible, and which was a good deal, for -the night was pleasant, and there are worse beds than the mossy hillside -on a July night. - -"Too bad that your weddin' night had to be broken up so," said Si -sympathetically, as he and Shorty and the bridegroom sat together on a -knoll and watched the distant flames. "But you needn't 've come with us -this time; nobody expected you to." - -"Why, I s'posed this wuz part o' the regler thing," answered Nate in -amazement. "I s'posed that wuz the way yo'uns allers married folkses in -the army. Allers something happens at weddin's down hyah. Mos' ginerully -hit's a free fout betwixt the young fellers o' the bride's an' -bridegroom's famblies, from 'sputin' which fambly's made the best match. -When Brother Wils married Becky Barnstable we Hartburn boys said that -Wils mout-ve looked higher. The Barnstable boys done tuk hit up, an' -said the Barnstables wuz ez good ez the Hartburns ary day in the week, -an' at the weddin' Nels Barnstable had his eye gouged out, Ike -Barnstable wuz knocked down with a flail, an' had what the doctor called -discussion o' the brain, and ole Sandy Barnstable cut off Pete -Hartburn's ear with a bowie. They-uns reopened the argyment at the -infair, an' laid out two o' the Hartburns with ox-gads. I don't think -they orter used ox-gads. Tain't gentlemanly. D'ye think so? Knives, an' -pistols, an' guns, an' even flails an' axes, is all right, when you -can't git nothin' better, but I think ox-gads is low an' onery." - -Si and Shorty looked at the gentle, drawling, mild-eyed young -Tennesseean with amazement. A young girl could not have seemed softer or -more pliant, yet he quietly talked of savage fighting as one of the most -casual things in life. - -"Well," said Shorty, "if that's the way you celebrat weddin's and in- -fairs down here in Tennessee, I don't wonder that you welcome a battle -for a change. I think I'd prefer a debate with guns to one with axes and -flails and anything that'd come handy. It's more reg'ler to have umpires -and referees, and the thing conducted accordin' to the rules of the P. -R. Then when you git through you know for sure who's licked." - -"Jist 'cordin' t' how one's raised," remarked Nate philosophically. -"I've allers done seed a big furse o' some kind at a weddin'. Don't all -yo'uns have none at yo'uns's weddin's?" - -"Nothin' worse'n gittin' the girl's dad to consent," answered Shorty, -"and scratchin' 'round to git the money to git married on to buy a new -suit o' clothes, fee the preacher, pay for the license, and start -housekeepin'. That's enough for one lifetime." - -"Well, mam an' the gals made Wils's weddin' cloze," said Nate -reflectively. "He had his own sheep, which he sheared in the Spring. -They'uns carded, spun, dyed, an' wove the wool themselves, an' made him -the purtiest suit o' cloze ever seed on the mountings." - -"Your mother and sisters goin' to make your weddin' suit, Si?" asked -Shorty. "What'd he have to pay for the license?" - -"License? What's that?" asked Nate. - -"License? Why, a license," explained Si, "is something you git from the -County Clerk. It's leave to git married, and published in the County -paper." - -"Don't have t' have no leave from nobody down here t' git married. Hit's -nobody's business but the man's an' the gal's, an' they'uns's famblies. -Some times other folkses tries t' stick their noses in, but they'uns git -sot down upon." - -"What'd he pay the preacher?" asked Shorty. - -"Why, mam gin his wife a hank o' fine stockin' yarn, an' dad gin him a -couple sides o' bacon." - -"At present prices o' pork in Injianny," remarked Si, after a little -mental figuring, "that wasn't such a bad fee." - -"If you speak to the Captain," suggested Si, "he'll let you go back home -to your wife. I don't believe there's goin' to be anything special to- -night. The cavalry don't seem to be stirrin' up nothin out there." - -"I don't keer t'," said Nate, in his sweet, girlish drawl. "Ruther stay -with yo'all. Mout somethin' happen. Biff Perkins an' his gang o' -gorillers is out thar somewhar, not fur off, huntin' a chance fur -deviltry. I'd like mouty t' git a whack at they'uns. Nance'll keep. -She's mine now, fast an' good, for ever, an'll wait fur me. Afore we wuz -spliced I wuz afeered Zach Barnstable mout work some contrivance t' git -her, but now she belongs t' me." - -The boys took him to their hearts more than ever. - -At the coming of the early dawn the regiment was aroused and marched -back to camp, there to meet orders to move forward at once, as soon as -breakfast was prepared and eaten. Away it marched for the Tennessee -River, behind which Bragg was supposed to be gathering his forces for -the defense of Chattanooga. - -As Co. Q went by the cabin, Grandfather Onslow was seated in a rocking- -chair on the porch, smoking a cob pipe, while Mrs. Nancy Onslow -Hartburn, with her finger bashfully in her mouth, peeped around the -corner. Co. Q gave her a cheer, at which she turned and fled out of -sight, as if it was some raillery on her newly-married state, and Nate -hung down his head, as if he, too, felt the boys were poking fun at him. - -"Good-by, boys. Lick the life outen Ole Bragg," quavered Grandfather -Onslow, waving his hand after them. - -"That's what we're goin' to do," shouted the boys in reply. - -"Well," said Si, "I bet if ever I'm married I'll kiss my wife before I -go away." - -"Me, too," echoed Shorty, very soulfully. - -Shorty and Si considered Nate Hartburn their special protege, and were -deeply anxious to transform him into a complete soldier in the shortest -possible time. He was so young, alert, and seemingly pliable, that it -appeared there would be no difficulty in quickly making him a model -soldier. But they found that while he at once responded to any -suggestion of a raid or a fight, drill, discipline and camp routine were -bores that he could be induced to take only a languid interest in. -Neither Si nor Shorty were any too punctilious in these matters, but -they were careful to keep all the time within easy conversational -distance of the regulations and tactics. Naturally, also, they wanted -their pupil to do better than they did. But no lecturing would prevent -young Hartburn from slouching around camp with his hands in his pockets -and his head bent. He would not or could not keep step in the ranks, nor -mark time. While Si was teaching him he would make a listless attempt to -go through the manual of arms, but he would make no attempt to handle -his gun the prescribed way after the lesson was ended. Si was duly -mindful of the sore time he himself had in learning the drill, and tried -to be very considerate with him, but his patience was sorely tried at -times. - -"For goodness' sake, Nate," Si would say irritably, "try to keep step. -You're throwin' everybody out." - -"'Tain't my fault, Si," Nate would reply with a soft drawl. "Hit's -theirs. I'm walkin' all right, but they'uns hain't. Jaw them. What's the -sense o' walkin' so' close together, anyway? Yo' don't git thar no -sooner." - -Then again: - -"Great jumpin' Jehosephat, Nate, will you never learn the right way to -hold your gun when you present arms? You must turn the trigger outside, -not the hammer." - -"O, Jeminy, what difference does hit make? I never kin recollect hit, -an' what's the use o' tryin'? Can't see no sense in holdin' a gun -straight up an' down that-a-way, anyway, an' if yo' do, hain't one side -jest as good as t'other?" - -He was so obdurate that the boys would some times be provoked to sharp -words to him, but his gentle speech would quickly disarm them again, and -make them feel penitent. - -At last the 200th Ind. came out upon the crest of Waldron's Ridge, -overlooking the Tennessee River, which wound and turned amid the -towering mountains like a band of bright silver traversing the giant -billows of green. Everyone caught his breath at the sight, for beyond -the stream were rebel camps, and moving trains and long, lines of -marching men. Was all of Bragg's army gathered over there to dispute the -passage or was a part still this side of the river, ready to pounce on -our heads of columns as they meandered down the mountain? - -The brigade was closed up, information sent to the Division Commander, -and the 200th Ind. pushed to the front to develop whatever might be -there. Si with Shorty and some others were sent ahead to feel for the -enemy. - -"Take him along?" asked Si of Shorty in a low tone, with a nod toward -Nate, as they were making up the squad. - -"Don't know," answered Shorty. "If ever in the world, we want men with -us to-day who don't git rattled, and make a holy show o' theirselves -before the regiment, but'll keep cool, watch their chances, and obey -orders. Guess we'd better leave him behind." - -"Seems to me," said Si, trying vaguely to recall his Scriptual readings, -"that the Bible says some thing agin takin' a newly-married man right -into battle just after he's married." - -He looked around again, saw Nate taking his place along with the other -men selected, and called out: - -"Here, Nate, fall back to the company. You can't go along." - -"Please, Mister Si, le' me go along," begged Nate, in the soft tones of -a girl asking for a flower. "I'll be good. I'll hold my gun straight, -an' try t' keep step." - -"No, you can't go., This 's partickler business, and we want only -experienced men with us. Better fall back to the company." - -"Go ahead, there, Corporal," commanded the Adjutant. "Time's passing. We -must move." - -Si deployed his men and entered the dense woods which curtained the view -and shrouded the enemy. It was one of those deeply anxious moments in -war, when the enemy is in ambush, and the next instant, the next step -may develop him in deadly activity. - -Si was on the right of his line and Shorty on the left, and they were -pushing forward slowly, cautiously, and with every sense strained to the -extremity of alertness. - -So dense was the foliage overhead that it was almost a twilight in the -forest depths they were penetrating, and Si's eyes were strained to keep -track of the men moving on his left, and at the same time watch the -developments in front. He had noticed that he was approaching a little -opening some distance ahead, and that beyond it was a dense thicket of -tall laurels. Then he thought he heard a low whistle from Shorty, and -looked far to the left, while continuing to walk forward. - -Suddenly he was startled by a shot a little to his rear and left. Then a -shot answered from the laurel thicket, he saw the bushes over there stir -violently, and he heard Nate's voice say: - -"He wuz layin' for yo', Si, an' come nigh a-gittin' yo', but I think I -must've at least creased him, from the wild way he shot back. Le's go -forrard an' see." - -"I thought I told you to stay back," said Si, more intent on military -discipline than his escape. - -"I know yo' did done hit, but I couldn't mind, an' tagged 'long arter -yo'." - -"How'd you know he wuz there?" - -"I done seed the bushes move over his head. I knowed jest how he wuz a- -layin' for yo'. Le's go forrard an' git him." - -Si and Nate ran across the open space to the laurels, and found a little -ways in a bushwhacker staggering from pain and loss of blood from a -wound in his hip, and making labored efforts to escape. - -"I done hit him; I done fetched him; I done knowed jist whar he wuz," -exclaimed Nate with boyish exultation. - -At the sound of his voice the bushwhacker turned around upon him an -ugly, brutal face, full of savage hatred. - -"Why, hit's bad ole Wash Barnstable, what burnt daddy's stable with two -horses, an' shot brother Wils through the arm. I'll jist job him in the -heart with my bayonet," screamed the boy as he recognized the face. His -own features became transfigured with rage, and he began fixing his -bayonet. Si pushed forward and caught the bushwhacker by the shoulder -and tore the gun from his hand. Nate came springing up, with his bayonet -pointed directly at the man's heart. Si saw it in time to thrust it -aside, saying in wrathful astonishment: - -"Nate, you little scoundrel, what do you mean? Would you kill a wounded -man?" - -"Suttenly I'll done kill him," screamed the boy in a a frenzy of rage. -"Why not? He desarves hit, the hell-hound. All of us Hartburns 've said -we'd done kill him the minnit we laid eyes on him. Now that I've got him -I'm gwine t' finish him." - -He made another vicious lunge at the man with his bayonet. - -"Indeed you're not," said Si, releasing his hold on the prisoner and -catching Nate's gun. "You mustn't kill a wounded man, you young -wildcat." - -'you Must'nt Kill a Wounded Man 143 - -"Why not?" shouted the boy, beside himself with rage. "He's done killed -lots o' men. He'll kill more if yo' let him go. He wuz layin' t' kill -yo'. Air yo' gwine t' gin him another chance to down yo'?" - -Si wrested the gun from him. Two or three other boys who had been -attracted by the shot came up at this moment. Si gave the prisoner into -the charge of one of them, with instructions to take him to the rear. -Nate released his hold on his gun and made a jump for the one which the -other boy had stood against a tree when he started to take hold of the -prisoner. Again Si was too quick for him. He was by this time so angry -that he was in the mood to give Nate a severe lesson, but the Adjutant, -had ridden forward, called out: - -"Go ahead, there, Corporal. We're just behind you." - -"Pick up your gun, there, Nate, and come along with me, if you kin -behave yourself. There's work much more important than killin' wounded -bushwhackers. Come along, this minute." - -Nate hesitated a moment, then picked up his gun with a vengeful look at -the prisoner. - -"I'll kill him yit. Mebbe I'll git a chance this evenin' yit," said he, -and followed Si. - - - - - -CHAPTER XII. SI AND SHORTY IN LUCK THEY MAKE A BRIEF VISIT TO "GOD'S -COUNTRY." - -THE shot fired by Nate Hartburn was the only one that interrupted the -progress of the 200th Ind. to the banks of the Tennessee River. Its -cautious advance at last brought it out on the crest of a hill, at the -foot of which, 200 feet below, flowed the clear current of the mountain- -fed stream. The rebels were all on the other side. Their pickets could -be plainly seen, and they held the further pier of the burned railroad -bridge. To our right rose three strong forts, built the year previous. - -As soon as it was determined that all the enemy were beyond the river, -the 200th Ind. went into camp for the afternoon and night upon a cleared -spot which had been used for that purpose before our troops had been -flanked out of that country by Bragg's raid into Kentucky just a year -before. - -A dress parade was ordered at 6 o'clock, and when the Adjutant came to -"publish the orders," the regiment was astonished and Si electrified to -hear: - -"In pursuance of orders from Division Headquarters to detail squads from -each of the different regiments to proceed to their respective States to -bring back recruits and drafted men for the regiments, First Lieut. -Bowersox, of Co. A, and Corp'l Josiah Klegg, of Co. Q, with six enlisted -men of that company, to be selected by Capt. McGillicuddy, are here by -detailed for that duty, and will prepare to leave to-morrow morning." - -Si clutched his partner in his excitement and said, "Shorty, did you -hear that? I'm to be sent back to Injianny. Ain't that what he said?" - -"If my ears didn't mistake their eyesight, them was about his words," -returned Shorty. "You're in luck." - -"And you're goin' with me, Shorty." - -"The Adjutant didn't include that in his observations. I ain't so crazy, -anyway, to git back to Injianny. Now, if it wuz Wisconsin it'd be -different. If you've got any recruits to bring on from Wisconsin, I'm -your man. I'd go up there at my own expense, though I don't s'pose that -Rosecrans could spare me just now. What'd become o' the army if he'd git -sick, and me away?" - -"But, Shorty, you are goin'. You must go. I won't go if you don't." - -"Don't say won't too loud. You're detailed, and men that's detailed -don't have much choice in the matter. - -"You'll probably act sensibly and do whatever you're ordered to do. Of -course, I'd like to go, if we kin git back in time for this sociable -with Mister Bragg. Don't want to miss that. That'll be the he-fight o' -the war, and probably the last battle." - -"Nor do I," answered Si; "but the thing won't come off till we git back. -They wouldn't be sending back for the drafted men and recruits except -that they want 'em to help out." - -"They'll be a durned sight more in the way than help," answered Shorty. -"We don't need 'em. We've handled Bragg so far very neatly, all by -ourselves, and we don't need anybody to mix into our little job. The -fewer we have the more credit there'll be in lickin' old Bragg and -capturin' Chattanoogy." - -The Orderly-Sergeant interrupted the discussion by announcing: - -"Here, Shorty, you're one to go with Si. The detail is made by the -Colonel's orders as a compliment to the good work you boys have been -doing, and which the Colonel knows about." - -"I always said that the Colonel had the finest judgment as to soldiers -of any man in the army," said Shorty, after taking a minute's pause to -recover from the compliment. - -The boys were immediately surrounded by their comrades, congratulating -them, and requesting that they would take back letters and money for -them. The Paymaster had recently visited the regiment, and everybody had -money which he wished to send home. There were also commissions to -purchase in numerable things, ranging from meerschaum pipes to fine -flannel shirts. - -"Look here, boys," said Shorty, good-humoredly, "we want to be obligin', -but we're neither a Adams Express Company nor in the gent's furnishin' -line. We've neither an iron safe to carry money nor a pedler's wagon to -deliver goods. John Morgan's guerrillas may jump us on the way home, and -comin' back we'll have to have packs to carry the truck in, and half of -it 'll be stole before we git to the regiment." - -But the comrades would not be dissuaded, and be fore Si and Shorty went -to sleep they had between $5,000 and $6,000 of their comrades' money -stowed in various safe places about their personages. - -"Great Jehosephat, Si," murmured Shorty, when they sat together in their -tent, after the last comrade had departed, leaving his "wad of -greenbacks," with directions as to its disposition, "I never felt so -queer and skeery in all my life. I wouldn't for the world lose a dollar -of the money these boys have been earnin' as they have this. But how -under heaven are we goin' to make sure of it?" - -"I've thought of a way o' makin' sure of to-night," said Si. "I spoke to -the Officer of the Guard, and he'll put a sentinel over us to-night, -so's we kin git a little sleep. I wouldn't shet my eyes, if it wasn't -for that. We'll have to let to-morrow take care of itself." - -Shorty lay down and tried to go to sleep, but the responsibility weighed -too heavily on his mind. Presently, Si, who, for the same reason, only -slept lightly, was awakened by his partner getting up. - -"What are you up to?" Si asked. - -"I've bin thinkin about pickpockets," answered Shorty. "They're an awful -slick lot, and I've thought of a hiding place that'll fool 'em." - -He picked up his faithful Springfield, and drawing an envelope with -money out of his shirt-pocket, rolled it up to fit the muzzle of his -gun, and then rammed it down. - -"That's Jim Meddler's $10," he said. "I'll know it, because his mother's -name's on the envelope. Here goes Pete Irvin's $20. I know it because it -has his wife's name on it." - -He continued until he had the barrel of the gun filled, and then stopped -to admire his cunning. - -"Now, nobody but me'd ever thought o' hidin' money in a gun. That's -safe, as least. All I've got to do is to stick to my gun until we git -acrost the Ohio River. But I hain't got the tenth part in; where kin I -put the rest? O, there's my cartridge-box and cap-box. Nobody'll think -o' lookin' there for money." - -He filled both those receptacles, but still had fully half his money -left on his person. - -"That'll just have to take its chances with the pickpockets," said he, -and returned to his bed, with his gun by his side, and his cap- and -cartridge-boxes under his head. - -The morning came, with their money all right, as they assured themselves -by careful examination immediately after reveille. - -As they fell in under Lieut. Bowersox to start, their comrades crowded -around to say good-by, give additional messages for the home-folks, and -directions as to their money, and what they wanted bought. - -But Shorty showed that he was overpowered with a nervous dread of -pickpockets. He saw a possible light-fingered thief in everyone that -approached. He would let nobody touch him, stood off a little distance -from the rest of the squad, and when any body wanted to shake hands -would hold him stiffly at arm's length. - -"Gittin' mighty stuck-up just because the Colonel patted you on the back -a little, and give you a soft detail," sneered one of Co. Q. - -"Well, you'd be stuck-up, too," answered Shorty, "if your clothes was -padded and stuffed with other folks' greenbacks, and you was in the -midst o' sich a talented lot o' snatchers as the 200th Injianny. Mind, I -ain't makin' no allusions nor references, and I think the 200th Injianny -is the honestest lot o' boys in the Army o' the Cumberland; but if I -wanted to steal the devil's pitchfork right out o' his hand, I'd make a -detail from the 200th Injianny to do the job, and I'd be sure o' gittin' -the pitchfork. I'll trust you all when you're 10 feet away from me." - -The others grinned and gave him a cheer. - -When they went to get on board the train Shorty had to change his -tactics. He got Si on his right, the Lieutenant immediately in front of -them, and two trusted boys of the squad directly behind, with strict -injunctions to press up close, allow nobody between, and keep a hawk's -eye on everybody. But both Si and Shorty were breathless with -apprehension till they got through the crowd and were seated in the car, -and a hasty feeling of various lumps about their persons assured them -that their charges were safe. They were in a passenger car, for luck. -The Lieutenant sat in front, Si and Shorty next, and the two trusty boys -immediately behind. They breathed a sigh of relief. As they stood their -guns over against the side of the car, Si suddenly asked: - -"Shorty, did you draw your charge before you rammed that money in?" - -Shorty jumped to his feet in a shudder of alarm, and exclaimed: - -"Great Jehosephat, no. I forgot all about it." - -"What's that you're saying about guns?" inquired the Lieutenant, turning -around. "You want to load them, and keep them handy. We're liable to -strike some guerrillas along the way, and we must be ready for them." - -"You fellers'll have to do the shootin'," whispered Shorty to Si. "It'll -be a cold day when I bang $150 in greenbacks at any rebel that ever -jumped. I'm goin' to take the cap off en my gun. The jostlin' o' the -train's likely to knock it off at any time, and send a small fortune -through the roof o' the car. I'd take the money out, but I'm afraid o' -tearin' it all to pieces, with the train plungin' so." - -He carefully half-cocked his piece, took off the cap, rubbed the nipple -to remove any stray fragments of fulminate, and then let the hammer down -on a piece of wadding taken from his cap. - -The long ride to Nashville over the ground on which they had been -campaigning and fighting for nearly a year would have been of deepest -interest to Si and Shorty, as it was to the rest, if they could have -freed their minds of responsibilities long enough to watch the scenery. -But they would give only a cursory glance any say: - -"We'll look at it as we come back." - -In the crowded depot at Nashville they had an other panic, but the -Provost-Guard kept a gangway clear as soon as it was discovered that -they were on duty. - -"You can stack your arms there, boys," said the Sergeant of the Guard, -"and go right over there and get a warm supper, with plenty of coffee." - -All but Shorty obeyed with alacrity, and stacked their guns with the -quickness of old and hungry vet erans. - -Shorty kept hold of his gun and started with the rest to the supper- -room. - -"Here, Injianny," called out the Sergeant, "stack your gun here with the -rest." - -"Don't want to ain't goin' to," answered Shorty. - -"What's the reason you ain't?" asked the Sergeant, catching hold of the -gun. "Nobody's going to take it, and if they did, you can pick up -another. Plenty of 'em, jest as good as that, all around here." - -"Don't care. This is my own gun. I think more of it than any gun ever -made, and I ain't goin' to take any chance of losin' it." - -"Well, then, you'll take a chance of losing your supper," answered the -Sergeant, "or rather you'll be certain of it, for the orders are strict -against taking guns into the supper-room. Too many accidents have -happened." - -"Well, then," said Shorty stoutly, "I'll do without my supper, though -I'm hungrier than a wolf at the end of a long Winter." - -"Well, if you're so infernal pig-headed, you've got to," answered the -Sergeant, nettled at Shorty's obstinacy. "Go back beyond the gunstack, -and stay there. Don't you come nearer the door than the other side of -the stack." - -Shorty's dander rose up at once. At any other time he would have -conclusions with the Sergeant then and there. But the remembrance of his -charge laid a repressive hand upon his quick choler, and reminded him -that any kind of a row would probably mean a night in the guard-house, -his gun in some other man's hands, probably lost forever, and so on. He -decided to defer thrashing the Sergeant until his return, when he would -give it to him with interest. He shouldered his gun, paced up and down, -watching with watering mouth the rest luxuriating in a hot supper with -fragrant coffee and appetizing viands, to which his mouth had been a -stranger for many long months. It cost a severe struggle, but he -triumphed. - -Si, in his own hungry eagerness, had not missed him, until his own -appetite began to be appeased by the vigorous onslaught he made on the -eatables. Then he looked around for his partner, and was horrified not -to find him by his side. - -"Where's Shorty," he anxiously inquired. - -Each looked at the other in surprise, and asked: - -"Why, ain't he here?" - -"No, confound it; he ain't here," said Si, excitedly springing to his -feet; "he has been knocked down and robbed." - -Si bolted out, followed by the rest. They saw Shorty marching up and -down as a sentinel sternly military, and holding his Springfield as -rigidly correct as if in front of the Colonel's quarters. - -"What's the matter with you, Shorty? Why don't you come in to supper?" -called out Si. "It's a mighty good square meal. Come on in." - -"Can't do it. Don't want no supper. Ain't hungry. Got business out -here," answered Shorty, who had gotten one of his rare fits of -considering himself a martyr. - -"Nonsense," said Si. "Put your gun in the stack and come in. It's a -bully supper. Best we've had for a year." - -"Well, eat it, then," answered Shorty crustily. "I've got something more -important to think of than good suppers." - -"O, rats! It's as safe in there as out here. Set your gun down and come -on in." - -"This gun shall not leave my side till we're home," said Shorty in a -tone that would have become the Roman sentinel at Pompeii. - -"O, I forgot," said Si. "Well, bring it in with you." - -"Can't do it. Strictly agin orders to take any guns inside. But leave me -alone. Go back and finish your gorge. I kin manage to hold out somehow," -answered Shorty in a tone of deep resignation that made Si want to box -his ears. - -"That's too bad. But I'll tell you what we can do. I've had a purty good -feed already enough to last me to Looeyville. Let me take your gun. I'll -carry it while you go in and fill up. We hain't much time left." - -The fragrance of the coffee, the smell of the fried ham smote Shorty's -olfactories with almost irresistible force. He wavered just a little—. - -"Si, I'd trust you as I would no other man in Co. Q or the regiment. -I'll—" - -Then his Spartan virtue reasserted itself: - -"No, Si; you're too young and skittish. You mean well, but you have -spells, when—" - -"Fall in, men," said Lieut. Bowersox, bustling out from a good meal in -the officers' room. "Fall in promptly. We must hurry up to catch the -Looeyville train." - -The car for Louisville was filled with characters as to whom there was -entirely too much ground for fear—gamblers, "skin-game" men, thieves, -and all the human vermin that hang around the rear of a great army. -Neither of the boys allowed themselves a wink of sleep, but sat bolt -upright the entire night, watching everyone with steady, stern eyes. -They recognized all the rascals they had seen "running games" around the -camps at Murfreesboro, and who had been time and again chased out of -camp even the whisky seller with whom Si's father had the adventure. The -Provost-Guard had been making one of its periodical cleaning-ups of -Nashville, and driving out the obnoxious characters. Several of these -had tried to renew their acquaintance by offering drinks from well- -filled bottles, but they were sternly repulsed, and Shorty quietly -knocked one persistent fellow down with a quick whirl of his gun-barrel. -When Shorty was hungry it was dangerous to trifle with him. - -They arrived at Louisville late in the morning, and were hurried across -the river to Jeffersonville. Fortunately they were able to find there an -eating-room where guns were not barred, and Shorty made amends for the -past by ravaging as far as his arms could reach, holding his precious -gun firmly between his knees. - -"Say, pardner," said the man who ran the establishment, "I'd much rather -board you for a day than a week. Rebels must've cut off the supply- -trains where you've bin. You're not comin' this way agin soon, air you? -I'm afraid I won't make 'nough this month to pay my rent." - -Lieut. Bowersox came in with a telegram in his hand. - -"We won't go on to Indianapolis," he said. "I'm ordered to wait here for -our squad, which will probably get here by to-morrow evening." - -A wild hope flashed up in Si's mind. - -"Lieutenant," he said, "we live right over there in Posey County. Can't -you let us go home? We can make it, and be back here before to-morrow -night." - -"I don't know," said the Lieutenant doubtfully, as he mentally -calculated the distance to Posey County. "I hadn't ought to let you go. -Then, you can't have more than an hour or two at home." - -"O,' goodness; just think o' havin' one hour at home," ejaculated Si. - -"It seems too bad," continued the Lieutenant, moved by Si's earnestness, -"to bring you this near, and not let you have a chance to see your -folks. - -"It'll be a risk for me, and there are not many men in the regiment I'd -take it for, but I'll let you go. - -"Remember, it'll make a whole lot of trouble for me if you're not here -by to-morrow evening." - -"We'll be here by to-morrow evening, if alive," he pledged himself. - -"Well, then, go," said the Lieutenant. - -Si's head fairly swam, and he and Shorty ran so fast to make sure of the -train that there was a suspicion in the minds of some of the citizens -that they were escaping from their officers. - -Si's heart was in a tumult as the engine-bell rang its final warning and -the engine moved out with increasing speed. Every roll of the swift -wheels was carrying him nearer the dearest ones on earth. The landscape -seemed to smile at him as he sped past. - -"Isn't this the grandest country on earth, Shorty?" he bubbled over. -"It's God's country for a fact. So different from old run-down, rebel- -ridden Tennessee. Look at the houses and the farms; look at the people -and the live-stock. Look at the towns and the churches. Look at -everything. Here's the country where people live. Down yonder's only -where they stay and raise Cain." - -"Yes," admitted Shorty, who had not so much reason for being -enthusiastic; "but the Wisconsin boys say that Wisconsin's as much finer -than Injianny as Injianny's finer'n Tennessee. I'll take you up there -some day and show you." - -"Don't believe a dumbed word of it," said Si, hot with State pride. "God -never made a finer country than Injianny. Wisconsin's nowhere." - -Then he bethought himself of the many reasons he had for gladness in his -home-coming which his partner had not, and said thoughtfully: - -"I wish, Shorty, you wuz goin' home, too, to your father and mother and -sisters, and—and best girl. But my father and mother'll be as glad to -see you as if you was their own son, and the girls'll make just as much -of you, and mebbe you'll find another girl there that's purtier and -better, and—" - -"Stop right there, Si Klegg," said Shorty. "All girls is purty and nice -that is, them that is purty and nice, but some's purtier and nicer than -others. Then, agin, one's a hundred times purtier and nicer than any o' -them. I've no doubt that the girls out your way are much purtier and -nicer'n the general run o' girls, but none o' them kin hold a candle to -that girl up in Wisconsin, and I won't have you sayin' so." - -"If we're on time," said Si, by way of changing the subject, "we'll git -to the station about sundown. The farm's about three miles from the -station, and we'll reach home after supper. Pap'll be settin' out on the -front porch, smokin', and readin' the Cincinnati Gazette, and mother'll -be settin' beside him knittin', and the girls'll be clearin' away the -supper things. My, won't they be surprised to see us! Won't there be a -time! And won't mother and the girls fly around to git us something to -eat! Won't they shake up that old cook-stove, and grind coffee, and fry -ham and eggs, and bake biscuits, and git us cool, sweet milk and -delicious butter from the old spring-house, and talk all the time! -Shorty, you never heard my sisters talk, especially when they're a -little excited. Gracious, they'll just talk the ears off both of us." - -"Well, if they take after you, they are talkers from Talkville," said -Shorty. "Mill-wheels ain't in it with your tongue, when it gits fairly -started." - -The train was on time, and just as the sun was setting behind the fringe -of cottonwoods along Bean Blossom Creek they stopped at the little -station, and started to walk out to the farm. A neighbor who was drawing -a load of tile from the station recognized Si, and begged them to get up -and ride, but the team was too slow for the impatient boys, and they -forged ahead. A thousand well-remembered objects along the road would -have arrested Si's attention were it not for the supreme interest -farther on. At last they came to a little rise of ground which commanded -a view of the house, and there, as Si predicted, sat his father and -mother engaged in smoking, reading and knitting. His first impulse was -to yell with delight, but he restrained himself, and walked as steadily -on as he could to the front gate. Old Towser set up a bark and ran down -the walk, and then changed his note to de lightful yelps of recognition. -Si was so nervous that he fumbled vainly for a minute at the gate-latch, -and while he did so he heard his mother say: "Father, there's a couple -o' soldiers out there." "Wonder if they kin be from Si's company," said -the father, lowering his paper, and looking over his spectacles. - -'father, There's a Couple of Soldiers out There.' 159 - -"Why, it's Si himself," screamed the mother in joyful accents. The next -instant she had sped down the walk quicker than she had ever gone in her -girlhood days, her arms about his neck, and she was crying on his -shoulder. - - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. MANY HAPPY EVENTS HOURS THAT WERE ALL-TOO-FEW AND ALL-TOO- -SHORT. - -THE girls heard their mother's happy scream and rushed out, dish towels -in hand. They at once realized what had happened, piped up their joyous -altos, and precipitated themselves upon Si. The good old Deacon came -trotting down the walk, fidgeting with his spectacles, but so enveloped -was his son with skirts and women's arms and happy, teary faces that he -could not get within arm's length of him. So he turned to Shorty: - -"Great day, Shorty, but I'm glad to see you! Come right up on the steps -and set down. How'd you happen to come home. Either of you sick or -wounded?" - -"Nope," answered Shorty sententiously. "Both sound as nuts and healthy -as mules." - -"Well, come right up on the porch and set down. You must be awful tired. -Le'me carry your gun and things for you." - -He took hold of the gun with such a desire to do something that Shorty -was fain to yield it, saying: - -"Deacon, you are the first man in about a million betwixt here and the -Tennessee River that I'd let tech that gun. I don't know now of another -man in the United States that I'd trust it with. That 'ere gun is loaded -plum full of other folks's money." - -"Goodness, is that so?" said the Deacon, handling the musket with -increased respect. "I've heard o' a bar'l o' money, but never supposed -that it was a gun bar'l." - -"And more'n that," continued Shorty, "there's a full-grown cartridge -below that might shoot a war widow's new dress and shoes for the -children off into the moon." - -"Goodness gracious!" ejaculated the Deacon, holding out the gun as he -did Si the first time that interesting infant was placed in his hands, -"handlin' other people's money's always ticklish business, but this's a -leetle the ticklishest I ever heard of." - -"That's what bin wearin' me down to the bone," responded Shorty soberly, -and as they reached the porch he explained the situation to the Deacon, -who took the gun in the house, and laid it carefully on a bed in the -"spare room." - -"Girls, you're smotherin' me! Let up, won't you? Mandy, you dabbed that -wet dishcloth right in my eye then. Maria, I can't talk or even breathe -with your arm over my windpipe. You, dear mother, I'll pick you up and -carry you into the house, if you'll let me," Si was trying to say. "I -can't answer all your questions at once, 'specially when you're shuttin' -off my breath an' dinnin' my ears till I can't hear myself think." - -"Le's carry your things up, Si," said Maria, after Si had gotten them -calmed down a little. "You must be awful tired." - -Si saw that this would be the best way to keep the girls off, while he -devoted his attention to his mother. He handed his gun and belt to -Maria, who marched on ahead, triumphantly waving her dish-towel as a -gonfalon of victory, while she cheered for the Union in her sweet -contralto. Mandy took possession of his blanket roll and haversack, -while Si almost carried his tearful mother on to the porch. There her -housewifely instinct at once asserted it self. - -"I know you and your friend there must jest be starvin'," she said, -gathering herself up. "I never knowed when you wasn't, if you'd bin an -hour from the table." - -"Shorty's worse'n me," said Si with a grin. "But I haven't interduced -him yit. Mother, girls, this is Shorty, my pardner, and the best pardner -a feller ever had." - -"Glad to know you, Mr. Shorty," said they, shaking his hand. "We've -heard so much of you that we feel that we've knowed you all along." - -"Drop the Mister, then," said Shorty. "I'm plain Shorty to everybody -until I'm out o' the army. I've heard so much of you that I feel, too, -that I've bin acquainted with you all my life." - -"Girls," commanded the mother, "come on and let's git the boys something -to eat." - -"No, mother," pleaded Si, holding fast to her hand. "Let the girls do -it. I want you to sit here and talk to me." - -"No, Si," answered the mother, kissing him again, and releasing her -hand, "I must do it myself. I must cook your supper for you. The girls -won't do it half well enough." - -She hustled away to the kitchen, and Si and Shorty explained to the -Deacon the circumstances of their visit, and that they must leave by the -next train going east, in order to keep their promise to Lieut. -Bowersox. The Deacon immediately started Abraham Lincoln and the boy on -saddle horses to bring in the neighbors to see the boys, and get the -money that had been sent them. They went into an inner room, carefully -blinded the windows, and began to draw out the money from various -pockets, cartridge-boxes, and other receptacles about their persons. - -All drew a long breath of relief when, counting that in Shorty's gun, -every dollar was found to be safe. - -"But how in time you're ever goin' to git that money out o' that gun -beats me," said the Deacon, picking up the musket, and gazing dubiously -into the muzzle. "It was a mighty smart thing to do down at the front, -but what are you going to do now, when you want to give the money to the -people it belongs to?" - -"It certainly don't seem as smart as it did that night on the banks o' -the Tennessee," Shorty admitted as he fixed his bullet screw on the end -of his rammer, "but I'm goin' to trust to my own smartness and the -Providence that provides for war widows and orphans to git out every -dollar in good shape for them it was intended for." - -The bullet-screw brought out the first "wad" easily and all right. - -The First Wad Came out Easily and All Right. 165 - -"Well, Providence is lookin' out for Jim Irvin's wife and children all -right," said Shorty, as they smoothed out the bills and found them -intact. - -The next attempt was equally successful, and as Shorty unrolled the -bills he remarked: - -"Providence is again overlookin'. There's Jim Beardslee's $50 for his -widowed mother." - -"And she needs it, poor woman," said the Deacon. "I've seen that she had -all the meat and wood she's needed since Jim enlisted, and Deacon -Flagler keeps her in flour." - -The next offered more difficulty. The rammings on those above had -compacted it pretty solidly. The bullet screw cut off bits of it, and -when finally it was gotten out the $10 bill was in pieces. - -"That's Alf Ellerby's gift to his lame sister," said Shorty, as he -ruefully surveyed the fragments. "I'm afraid Providence wasn't mindin' -just then, but I'll give her a good bill out o' my own pocket." - -"No, you needn't," said Maria, who had slipped in, fork in hand, to -pinch Si, kiss him, and ask him a question which she did not want Mandy -to hear; "I kin paste that all together with white of egg so's it'll -look as good as ever. I done that with a bill that Towser snatched out -o' my hand and chawed before I could git it away from him. The store -keeper took it and said it was just as good as any. Sophy Ellerby 'd -rather have it that way than a new bill, so long's it comes direct from -Alf." - -Again Shorty sent down the bullet screw, and again there was more -tearing off of bits, and finally a mangled $20 bill was dragged forth -and laid aside for Mandy to repair. "Ike Englehardt sent that to his -mother to help take his sister through the Normal School, so's she kin -become a teacher. She'll git that all right. But I've broken my bullet -screw in that wrastle. It snapped clean off, and I've got the worst job -of all now to get out $100 in two 50's that Abe Trelawney sent his -mother to meet that mortgage on her little house. Abe's bin savin' it up -for months, and I was more anxious about it than any other, and so I put -it down first. Si, let me have your bullet-screw." - -"Hain't got none. Lost mine weeks ago, while we was on the Tullahomy -march." - -"Great Jehosephat! what am I goin' to do?" groaned Shorty, the sweat -starting out on his fore head. "Now's the time for Providence to help -out, if He's goin' to. I'm at the end o' my string." - -"Supper's ready, boys; come on in," announced the sweet, motherly voice -of Mrs. Klegg. She seconded her invitation with her arm around Si and a -kiss on his cheek. "Father, bring Shorty, unless he'd rather walk with -the girls." - -Shorty was altogether too bashful to take advantage of the direct hint. -Si's lively sisters filled him with a nervous dread of his social -shortcomings. He grew very red in the face, hung back from them, and -caught hold of the Deacon's arm. - -"Go slow with him, girls," whispered the Deacon to his daughters, after -they were seated at the table. "He's a mighty good boy, but he ain't -used to girls." - -"He's rather good looking, if he does act sheepish," returned Mandy. - -"Well, he ain't a mite sheepish when there's serious business on hand," -returned the father. "And next to ourselves, he's the best friend your -brother has." - -It had been many years since the wandering, rough-living Shorty had sat -down to such an inviting, well-ordered table. Probably he never had. No -people in the whole world live better than the prosperous Indiana -farmers, and Mrs. Klegg was known far and wide for her housewifely -talents. The snowy table linen, the spotless dishes, the tastefully- -prepared food would have done credit to a royal banquet. Hungry as he -was, the abashed Shorty fidgeted in his chair, and watched Si begin -before he ventured to make an attack. The mother and girls were too busy -plying Si with questions and anticipating his wants to notice Shorty's -embarrassment. - -Si was making a heroic effort to eat everything in sight, to properly -appreciate all the toothsome things that loving hands were pressing upon -him, and to answer the myriad of questions that were showered upon him, -and to get in a few questions of his own at the same time. He just found -time to ask Shorty: - -"Say, this is great this 's like livin', ain't it?" - -And Shorty replied with deep feeling: "Just out o' sight. How in the -world'd you ever come to enlist and leave all this?" - -The neighbors began gathering in fathers, mothers and sisters of members -of Co. Q, all full of eager questions as to their kindred, and this -relieved Shorty, for he could tell them quite as well as Si. - -The supper ended, the problem of the money in the gun again loomed up. -Everyone had an opinion as to how to extricate the valuable charge. The -women, of course, suggested hair-pins, but these were tried without -success. A gimlet taken from its handle and secured to the ramrod, -refused to take hold. - -Somebody suggested shooting the gun across a pond of water, and getting -the money that way, but it was decided that the force of the Springfield -seemed too great for any body of water in the neighborhood. Then Jabe -Clemmons, the "speculative" genius of the neighborhood, spoke up: - -"Gentlemen, I've an idee. Deacon, how much is in that small haystack of -your'n?" - -"'Bout 10 tons," answered the Deacon. - -"Jest about. Well, I'll pay you the regular market price for it, and -give $100 to Miss Trelawney. Now, let this gentleman stand 50 feet from -it and shoot his gun at it. He mustn't tell none of us where he aims at. -I'll sell you, gentlemen, that hay in 40 quarter-ton lots, commencing at -the top, each man to pay $2 besides the regular price for a quarter ton -o' hay, an' we'll draw numbers as to our turns in takin' the fodder." - -"Looks somethin' like gamblin'," demurred the Deacon. - -"No more'n church lotteries," answered Jabe, "since it's for a good -purpose. Now, gentlemen, who wants to buy a quarter ton of Deacon -Klegg's first-class hay?" - -At once he had replies enough to take the whole stack, but while he was -writing down the names Deacon Klegg had another idea. - -"I can't quite git my mind reconciled to gamblin', even for a good -purpose," he said. "And I ain't sure about how the two 50's 'll strike -the haystack. It'd be a sin if they were destroyed, as they are likely -to be. I've another idee. My well there is 25 foot deep. Let's take the -bucket out, and let Shorty shoot his gun straight down into the well. I -believe the money'll come out all right. If it don't I'll make it up -myself, rather than be a party to a gamble." - -"May blow the bottom o' your old well out," muttered Jabe Clemmons, who -dearly loved anything in the shape of a game of hazard. - -"I'll resk that," said the Deacon. "I kin dig an other well, if -necessary." - -The Deacon's proposal was carried. Shorty, holding the butt of his gun -carefully upright, fired down into the well. A boy was lowered in the -bucket, and soon announced by a joyful cry that he had gotten the bills. -Upon being brought up and examined they were found to be uninjured, ex -cept by a slight singeing at the edges. - -"Providence's agin managin' things," murmured Shorty gratefully; "but -the Deacon's gumption helped out." - -All the money for those not present to receive it in person was turned -over to the Deacon, and then for the first time the boys felt relieved -of a great responsibility. - -"There are two trains goin' east," said the Deacon, in response to their -inquiries as to the facilities for returning. "The through express -passes here at 3:15, and it'll git you to Jeffersonville early in the -morning. The accommodation passes about day break, and it'll git you -there in the evenin', if it makes connections, which it often doesn't." - -"We must go on the through express," said Si firmly. There was a loud -outcry by the mother and sisters, but the father recognized the demands -of military discipline. - -Si began to fidget to get away from the crowd of eager inquirers, which -Mandy noticing, she found opportunity to whisper: - -"Don't fret. She'll be here presently." - -Si's face burned. He had thought his secret well-kept, but here his -sisters read his thoughts like an open book. He had wanted to go to -Annabel, and have a few golden minutes alone with her. Just what for -just what he would say or do he did not in the least know he could not -imagine. Only he felt that in some way the main interest of his life -depended on seeing her somewhere remote from curious eyes and listening -ears. He wanted to go to her, not to have her come to him, and meet him -in such a throng as was gathered at his home. - -While these thoughts were coursing through his mind he heard Maria call: - -"Si, come here into my room. I want to show you the purtiest thing you -ever saw." - -While Mandy was a most correct young woman, she could not withstand -giving a significant wink to those around, to which they responded with -knowing smiles. These, fortunately, Si did not see. He arose at once, -the people made way, and he was led by Maria to her room. She opened the -door and said: - -"There, now, kiss me for a loving sister." - -It was a fervent kiss that Si rewarded her with, for, there, rising from -her chair as the door opened, dressed in her best, and her face wreathed -with smiles and blushes, stood Annabel. - -"Since you are so mean about goin' away so soon, you can only have 10 -minutes together; make the most of it," laughed Maria, and she scudded -back to the sitting-room. - -Si stood for an instant dazed. How beautiful she was far more so than -his recollections had painted her. She had blossomed out from the -school-girl into the mature woman, and every feature ripened. Fair as -his home seemed in contrast with the country he had left, she seemed -still fairer in contrast with any woman he had ever seen. Where were the -thousand things that, brooding by the campfire and lying in his tent, he -thought over to say to her when they met? All forgotten or dismissed as -inappropriate. He simply stood and gazed at her. She re covered herself -first, and said teasingly: - -"Well, how do you do? Ain't you going to speak? Ain't you glad to see -me?" - -Si could only step forward and take her hand, and murmur: - -'annabel, How Purty You Look.' 173 - -"Annabel, how purty you look. How you've growed, and all purtier. I'm -awfully glad to see you. That's what I most wanted to come home for." - -Then his face burned with new blushes to think how much he had said. -They sat down, he still holding her hand, with his eyes fixed upon her -face. Somehow, in the mysterious telegraphy of first love, they so fully -understood one another that words were unnecessary. - -Speechless, but fuller of happiness than they ever dreamed was possible -in the world, they sat with clasped hands until Maria came back, calling -out: - -"Time's up. The folks say that they can't let Annabel have you any -longer. Come into the sitting-room, both of you. Come along, Si. Come -along, Annabel." - -Si rose obediently, but Annabel declined to go. She did not say why, but -Maria, with a woman's instincts, knew that she wanted to be alone to -think it all over. Maria therefore hurried back. - -"Good-by, Annabel," he said, pressing her hand again. "I'll write to you -first thing when I git back." - -"Good-by, Si. God keep you for me, safe through battles and dangers." - -She turned away to hide her bursting tears. - -It was astonishing how quick midnight came. When the clock striking 12 -smote the ears of the family, nobody had said, heard or asked one tithe -of what he or she was burning eager to, yet the parting was but a little -more than two brief hours away. - -With a heart heavier even than when she parted from her boy for the -first time, Mrs. Klegg arose, and sought to distract her thoughts by -collecting as big a package as they could carry of the choicest -eatables. How often she stopped to cry softly into her apron not even -the girls knew, for she was resolved to keep up a brave front, -especially before Si, and would carefully wash all traces of tears from -her face, and clear the sobs from her throat before re-entering the room -where he was. - -Shorty had at once been taken to the hearts of everyone, and all the -older men urged him to "come back here as soon as the war's over, marry -a nice girl, and settle down among us." - -Si received many compliments upon his development into such a fine, -stalwart man. - -One after another said: - -"Si, what a fine, big man you've growed into. I declare, you're a credit -to your father and mother and the settlement. We all expect you to come -back a Captain or a Colonel, and we'll run you for Sheriff or County -Commissioner, or something as big." - -"O, anything but Treasurer," Si would laughingly reply. "I've had enough -handling other folks' money to last me my life." - -Presently Abraham Lincoln brought the spring wagon around. Even in the -moonlight Si could see that freedom and the Deacon's tuition had -developed the ex-slave into a much better man than the wretched runaway -whom his father had protected. He wanted to know more of him, but there -were too many demands upon his attention. They all mounted into the -wagon, the bundles were piled in, one last embrace from his mother, and -they drove away, reaching the station just in time to catch the train. -As he kissed Maria good-by she shoved a letter into his hand, saying: - -"This is from Annabel. Read it after you git on." - -As the train whirled away Si made an excuse to go away from Shorty, and -standing up under the lamp in the next car he read on a tear-stained -sheet: - -"Deer Si: I wanted so much to tel you, but the words wooddent come to my -lips, that Ime yours til deth, no matter what happens, and Ime shure you -feel the saim way. Annabel." - -Coming back with his heart in a tumult of rapture, he found his partner -fast asleep and even snoring. - - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. THE FRISKY YOUNGSTERS TRYING TO LICK A BATCH OF RECRUITS -INTO SHAPE. - -FOR awhile the tumult of thought kept Si awake, but he was too young, -healthy, and tired for this to last long, and soon he had his head -pillowed on his blanket-roll, placed in the open car-window, and was -sleeping too sound to even dream of Annabel, while the rushing train -pelted his face with cinders from the engine and a hail of gravel from -the road-bed. But what was that to a soldier-boy who had been home, seen -his best girl, and had one of his mother's square meals? - -When the train rolled into Jeffersonville in the afternoon, they saw -Lieut. Bowersox on the platform anxiously waiting for them. His face -lighted up with pleasure when he saw them, and eagerly coming forward he -said: - -"Great Cesar, boys, but I'm glad you've come. I've been waiting for you -all day. Rush orders came last night to send everybody to the front. I -guess they are in need of every gun they can get. I should have gone -last night, but I managed to stave off my orders till now. If you hadn't -come on this train, though, I should 've had to go on with out you. -Hurry along, now. We are going right across the river." - -Despite the Lieutenant's urgency, Si found time to hand him a jar of -honey and a small crock of butter from their home supplies, which he -received with proper appreciation, and handed over to the grinning negro -boy he had picked up somewhere in Tennessee for a servant. They followed -the Lieutenant to where he had his squad of about 100 recruits gathered. -He said: - -"Here, Klegg, you will act as Orderly-Sergeant, and Shorty and the rest -of you as Sergeants of this detachment. Here is the list of them, Klegg. -Make up a roll and call it whenever I order you to do so." - -Si took the list and looked over the crowd. They were mainly boys of -about the same age and style as himself when he first enlisted, but he -thought he had never seen so green, gawky a lot in the world. Like him -then, every one was weighted down with a bundle of things that would -evidently be contributed to the well-being of the people along the line -of march. - -It seemed to him that they stood around the platform in as ugly -crookedness as a lodgment of driftwood on a Wabash bottom after a -freshet. - -"Where on the Wea prairies," muttered Shorty, "did Old Abe pick up that -job lot o' wind shaken, lopsided saplings? Must've bin pulled when green -and warped in the dryin'." - -"Well, we've got to git 'em into some sort o' shape," answered Si. "You -must help." - -"I help?" returned Shorty despairingly. "You'll need a West Point -perfessor and a hay-press to git that crowd into soldier shape. I ain't -once." - -"Here, Sergeant," ordered Lieut. Bowersox, "line the men up, count them, -learn their names, and give them a little preliminary drill, while I go -to Headquarters and see the Colonel again about our transportation." - -"Fall in, boys; fall in," commanded Si. - -The crowd looked at him curiously. They knew that he wanted them to do -something, they were willing to do it, but they hadn't the slightest -idea what it was. They made a move by huddling up a little toward him. - -"Fall in in two ranks, with the right here," shouted Si. - -There was more inconsequent huddling, which seemed so purposely awkward -that it irritated Si, and he spoke sharply: - -"Gosh all Krismuss, what's the matter with you lunkheads? Don't you know -nothing? You're dummer'n a lot o' steers." - -"Guess we know 'bout as much as you did when you first enlisted," said -the smallest of the lot, a red-cheeked, bright-eyed boy, who looked as -if he should have been standing up before a blackboard "doing a sum" in -long division, instead of on his way to the field of strife. "Show us -how, and we'll learn as quick as you did." - -Si looked at the fresh young boy. There was something actually girlish -in his face, and it reminded him of Annabel. His heart softened toward -him at once, and he remembered his own early troubles. He said gently to -the boy: - -"You're right. What's your name, my boy?" - -"Abel Waite." - -"Well, Abel, we'll make a soldier out of you in a little while. You are -the smallest; you'll be the left of the line. Go and stand there at the -corner. Now, boys, all lay your bundles down. Here, you tall fellow, -what's your name?" - -"James Bradshaw." - -"Well, Bradshaw, you'll be the right of the line all the time, and the -rest 'll form on you. Come, stand here." - -Bradshaw shambled forward in a way that made Shorty call out: - -"Here, Bradshaw, wake up! You ain't now follerin' a plow over the last -year's corn-furrers. Straighten up, lift them mud-hooks livelier and -drop your hands to your side." - -The man stopped, raised his hands, and looked at Shorty with his mouth -wide open. - -"Come, Bradshaw," said Si gently, taking hold of him, "I'll show you. -Now you stand right here. Put your heels together. Now turn your toes -out. Throw your shoulders back this way. Close your mouth. Put your -little fingers on the seams of your pantaloons that way. Now stand just -so." - -The poor man looked as miserable as if put in a strait-jacket, but tried -to literally obey instructions. - -"Now, what's your name?" Si asked the next tall est man. - -"Simeon Wheelwright." - -"Wheelwright, you stand behind Bradshaw, just as he does." - -And so Si went painstakingly through the whole squad until he came to -Abel Waite, whom he found did not need any instruction, for he had -profited by hearing the lectures to the others, and was standing as -stiff and correct as a veteran could have done. - -"Great outfit," remarked Shorty, walking down the line, gun in hand, and -surveying it critically. "Looks like a mourners' bench froze stiff. -Here, you red-headed man there, take in that corporation. You won't have -so much bay window after you've lived on army rations awhile." - -"Now," commanded Si, "when I say 'Count twos from the right,' I want you -to begin and count. The first man you, Bradshaw says 'one,' and the next -man on your left says 'two' and so on. The men in the rear rank do the -same. Count twos from the right Count!" - -"One, two; four, six; seven, nine; ten, 'leven," shouted the boys, in -all manner of tones and general bewilderment. - -"Stop it; stop it!" yelled Si, his temper again rising. "Great day, -can't you fellers understand plain English when it's talked to you? -What's the matter with you, anyway? Here, Bradshaw, when I give the -order to count, you count one. Wheel wright, you count one at the same -time. Williams and Talbot, you each count two. Then Aldrich, you and -Reynolds count one, and so on." - -At last he got them to count to his satisfaction, and then proceeded to -the next lesson. - -"Now, at the command 'right face' everybody face to the right. The No. 1 -men in the front rank stand fast. The No. 1 men in the rear rank take a -side step to the right. The No. 2 men each take a side step to the -right, and places himself on the right of No. 1." - -"Great Jehosephat, Si," remonstrated Shorty; "it'll take 'em a month to -learn all that." - -"Don't care if it does," said Si desperately. "They've got to learn it -sometime, and they can't learn no younger. Might as well begin now as -any time. 'Tention! Right face!" - -Si had hard work restraining the angry words which fumed up when he saw -the execution of his command. Only a few had turned to the right. The -rest had either stood still, turned to the left or were turning first -one way and then another, to adjust themselves to those nearest them. - -"Looks like a political primary just before the vote's called," remarked -Shorty. "Better git red rags to tie around their right hands, so's -they'll know 'em." - -"It'll be a shame to take them across the Ohio river in this shape," -said Si in deep vexation. "They'll shoot one another's heads off in the -first fight, if they've guns in their hands." - -"Don't worry," answered Shorty consolingly. "They'll pick it up mighty -fast as soon as they see other fellers doing it, and 'll be in purty -good shape by the time we git 'em to the regiment. We was just as green -as they are." - -Si repressed his petulant words with an effort, and started in to give -them an ocular demonstration of the way to execute "right face," but was -interrupted by the Lieutenant coming up and saying: - -"Here, we've got to move right out to catch the ferryboat and the train -on the other side. 'Tention! Pick up your bundles. Forward, march!" - -The Recruits Lined up on the Platform. 186 - -Tactics were forgotten in a go-as-you-please rush on to the ferryboat, -through the streets of Louisville, and on to the cars for Nashville. -Everybody else was doing the same. The boat and streets were filled and -the depot yard packed with men all pushing forward for the "front." -While Si, walking alongside the Lieutenant, led, Shorty and the rest of -the detail brought up the rear. After they had scrambled into the old -freight cars and stowed them selves away, Si looked over his squad and -counted it. - -"Have you got them all aboard, Sergeant?" in quired Lieut. Bowersox. - -"I've got the right number, sir," Si answered, saluting; "and if they -ain't all the same men they're just as good." - -"All right," returned the officer. "I had 103 put in my charge to take -to the regiment, and 103 men I must have when I get there." - -"You shall have the full 103, Lieutenant," assured Shorty, "if we have -to snatch in a native or two to take the place of some that fall through -the cracks." - -At Nashville the crowd and confusion were excessive; detachments of men -of all kinds, sorts and conditions armed and unarmed recruits, -convalescent veterans, men coming back from furlough, stragglers under -guard, squads of Quartermaster's employees, gangs of railroad laborers -and bridge-builders were all surging around, while their officers, -superintendents, foremen, etc., shouted themselves hoarse in trying to -get their men together and keep them so. When Si at last got his men on -board, and the train had moved out, he was dismayed to find that he was -five short. - -"They was lost in that shuffle back there in the depot," said Shorty. -"Lucky it wa'n't more. Wonder that we ever got through as well as we -did." - -"What in the world am I going to do?" inquired Si dolefully. "There's no -use sending back for them. They've probably got mixed up with some other -squads, and gone the Lord knows where. They haven't sense enough to find -their regiment in such a ruck as this." - -Si counted his men over again, with no better result. - -"I've got an idee," said Shorty, as Si came up to commune again with him -as to the misfortune. "I noticed five mighty lively young Irishmen in -that bridge gang that's on the rear car, and I've got a pint flash of -whisky that some fellow was green enough to lay down while we was there -in Nash ville. I'm goin' back to that car on recruitin' duty." - -Si, unable to think of anything better, went with him. The train had -stopped on a switch, and seemed likely to rust fast to the rails, from -the way other trains were going by in both directions. The bridge gang, -under charge of a burly, red-faced young Englishman, was in the rear -car, with their tools, equipments, bedding and cooking utensils. - -The English foreman was a recent arrival in the country. This was his -first employment here. Naturally surly and domineering, these qualities -were enhanced by potations at Nashville and since leaving. - -Si and Shorty strolled up to the young Irishmen, who were standing on -the ground near their car. They were very plainly recent arrivals, for -they still wore the characteristic clothes of the Emerald Isle, and -after a little conversation with them Shorty produced his bottle and -offered them a drink. The foreman had watched them suspiciously, and he -came swaggering up, saying insolently: - -"'Ere, you bloomin' sojer, Hi want you to keep haway from my men, hand -not be a-givin' them drink. You stay by yourselves, hand Hi won't 'ave -'em hinterfered wi' by nobuddy." - -"Your men," sneered Shorty. "You talk as if they was niggers, and not -white men. Who made 'em yours?" - -"Stow yer wid, ye bloody blue-jack," returned the foreman -contemptuously, "hand pull ha way from here. Hi never could bear sojers -blokes, too lazy to work hand too cowardly to steal. Hike out o' here, -and shut you 'ead, hif you know w'at's well for you." - -"Shut up your own head, you British blowhard," retorted Shorty, "and -mind your own business. Wait until you are a little longer in the -country be fore you try to run it. And I don't want no more o' your -slack. If you don't keep a civil tongue in your head I'll make you." - -The Englishman was just in the mood to be savagely tickled at the -prospect of a fight. He had not had a good, square one since he had been -in the country, and nothing yet had offered so gratifying as the -prospect of polishing off one of the despised "Hamerican sojers." -Several of the hated officers had strolled up, attracted by the high -words, and it would be an additional pleasure to thrash one of their men -before their eyes, in revenge for the slights he felt they had put upon -him. - -"You won't fight," he said disdainfully, "except with a gun or a knife, -like a bloody Dago. Ye dassent put up yer 'ands like a man." - -For response, Shorty handed his cap, his gun, his bottle, his blanket- -roll, his belt and haversack to Si, rolled up his sleeves, spit on his -hands, doubled his fists, and stepped forward into a boxing attitude. - -"Balance up to me, you beer-bloated Britisher," he exclaimed, "and git -naturalized by a real Star-Spangled Banner lickin' by an artist who kin -comb down any man that owes allegiance to Queen Victoree. Here's a -Heenan for your Tom Sayers." - -The Englishman began disrobing with an alacrity that showed how much his -heart was in it. A ring was speedily formed, the officers, mainly -Lieutenants and Captains, eagerly assisting, while keeping their eyes -over their shoulders to see that no one of much higher rank was in the -neighborhood. - -When the men confronted one another it was seen that they were a fairly- -good match. The English man was stouter and heavier; he showed a -splendid forearm, with corresponding swelling muscles near the -shoulders, and the way he poised himself and put up his hands revealed -that he had "science" as well as strength and courage. Shorty was taller -and more spare, but he was quicker and had the longer reach. It looked -as if the Englishman had the advantage, from his solid strength and -staying power, as well as "science." But those who looked on Shorty as -inferior did not know of the training he had received among the -turbulent crews of the Mississippi River boats. A man who had summered -and wintered with that fractious race had little to learn in any trick -or device of fighting. - -The first round showed that both were past-masters of ring tactics. -Their wardings and layings for openings were so perfect that neither -could get a blow in. - -When they stopped for a moment to breathe the Englishman said with frank -admiration: - -"Y're a heap better lot than Hi thort yer. Where'd ye learn to handle -yer dukes?" - -"Never mind where I learned," answered Shorty. "I learned enough to git -away with any English man that ever chawed roast beef." - -Again they closed, and sparred quick and hard for advantage, but neither -succeeded in getting in any thing but light, ineffective blows. Each -realized that the other was a dangerous man to handle, and each kept -cool and watched his chances. When they took another second to breathe -the Englishman said: - -"I'm goin' to settle ye this time, young feller, in spite o' yer -fibbin'. Ye peck around me like a cock pickin' up corn, but I'll bust -ye. Look hout for yerself." - -He made a savage rush to break through Shorty's guard by main force, but -Shorty evaded him by a quick movement, the Englishman struck his toe -against a piece of railroad iron, and fell to his knees. Shorty had him -at his mercy, but he merely stepped back a little further, and waited -for his opponent to rise and regain his position before he again -advanced to the attack. - -The Englishman lost his coolness. Again he rushed savagely at Shorty, -with less care in his guard. Shorty evaded his mighty blow, and reaching -up under his guard struck him on the chin so hard that the Englishman -fell like an ox. - -Shorty took him by the hand and helped him to his feet. "Do you want any -more? Have you got enough?" he asked. - -"Yes, Hi've got enough," answered the English man. "I'm too groggy to go -on. Hi've been drink-in' a bit too much to 'andle myself wi' a first- -class man like yerself. Y've downed me, and y've downed me fair, for -Hi'm not the man to whimper about not being fit. There's my hand. We're -friends. We'll try hit again some day, when Hi've got the likker out o' -me; won't we?" - -"Certainly, whenever you like," said Shorty, shak ing hands with him. - -"Say, cul," said the Englishman, in the friendliest sort of way, "w'at -was ye wantin' around among my men?" - -"To tell you the truth," answered Shorty, "I was after them to enlist -with us. We lost five men in the shuffle at Nashville, and I was lookin' -out for some to take their places. - -"That's w'at I thort," said the Englishman. "That's w'at I was afraid -of. The 'ead bridge man 'as bin preachin' to me ever since 'e 'ired me, -hand we made hup the gang in New York, to look hout hand keep my men -from bein' enlisted. Say, youngster, his yours a good regiment?" - -"The very best in the army," unhesitatingly as serted Shorty. "All free- -born American citizens, and high-toned gentlemen. I tell you, they're -daisies, they are." - -"Hi don't 'know," said the Englishman meditatively, "but Hi'd like to -see a little bit o' fightin' myself. Bridge buildin's 'eavy, 'ard work, -and Hi wouldn' mind sojerin' a little while for a change." - -"Come right along with me and this man," said Shorty catching on. -"You'll see the purtiest fighting to be found anywhere in the army, for -the 200th Injianny kin do it up to the Queen's taste. And we'll treat -you white. A better set o' boys never lived." - -"Hi'll do hit," said the Englishman decidedly. - -"Mebbe," suggested Shorty, remembering that this would still leave them -four short, "some o' your gang'd like to come along with you." - -"Some o' them," said the Englishman earnestly. "Hevery bloomin' one o' -them 'as got to go. They've got to volunteer. Hif Hi find hany cowardly -bloke that'd rather be a beastly bridge-builder than a gentleman and a -sojer, I'll pound 'is 'ead offen 'im. They'll all volunteer, I tell ye, -w'en Hi speak to 'em." - -Si had been quietly talking to the rest of the gang while this -conversation was going on, and discovered a general willingness to -exchange mechanical pursuits for those of a more martial character, and -so when they left the train at Chattanooga, Lieut. Bowersox marched at -the head of 130 recruits, instead of the 103 with whom he had crossed -the Ohio River. - - - - - -CHAPTER XV. KEYED UP FOR ACTION MARCHING INTO THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA. - -ALL of that eventful 19th of September, 1864, the men of Lieut. -Bowersox's detachment were keyed up with the knowledge that they were -heading straight for a desperate battle, and the main fear with Si, -Shorty and the great majority was that they would not reach the field in -time to take a hand in the affray. It seemed that never ran a locomotive -at such a snail's pace as their engine was compelled to do over the -wretched road bed and improvised bridges. The engineer, stimulated by -the excitement and the urgent messages at every station, was doing his -very best, but his engine was ditched once and narrowly escaped it a -hundred times. The only curb to their impatience was the absolute -knowledge that an attempt at faster running would result in not getting -there in time at all. - -At every stopping place news from the front was eagerly sought for and -canvassed. It was at all times aggressively meager. All that could be -learned was that the whole rebel army was out on the Chickamauga some -miles from Chattanooga, and savagely attacking the Union army to drive -it away and recapture the town. - -The news was generally very encouraging. Every attack of the rebels had -been repulsed, though our own loss had been heavy. But every man was -needed. The rebel lines extended far beyond those of the Union army in -each direction, and still they had enough for heavy assaulting columns. -Everybody in the neighborhood of Chattanooga had been ordered up, -leaving only the meagerest possible guards for the trains and -communications. - -This increased the burning impatience of the boys to get where they -could be of service. But it was far into the night when they finally -skirted the frowning palisades of Lookout Mountain, and went into -bivouac on the banks of Chattanooga Creek. All of the squad wanted guns, -and Si and Shorty had been desperately anxious to get them for them. - -At the stopping places were squads of guards, men more or less sick, and -men on detached duty. Whereever Si or Shorty's sharp search could find a -gun not actually in use, or not likely to be, it was pretty sure, by -some means or other, either openly or surreptitiously, to be gotten into -the hands of one of the squad. In this way, by the time they arrived at -Chattanooga, they had nearly half their men armed, and had given them -some preliminary instruction in handling their guns. The Indianians -needed little so far as loading and firing, for they were all natural -marksmen, but to the Englishman and his Irish squad the musket was a -thing of mystery and dread. - -"An' is that the goon for me?" said one of the Irishmen contemptuously, -as Si proudly handed him a trusty Springfield he had found unwatched -some where. "That fool thing wid a bore no bigger'n a gimlet hole? Fwhy, -out in the ould country, when we go man-hunting, we take a goon wid a -mouth like a funnel, that ye can put a hat full av balls inter. To the -divil wid such a goon as this." - -"Fix your mind on learnin' the kinks o' that gun, Barney," advised -Shorty. "One ball from it put in the right place 'll do more than a hat -full from your old Irish blunderbuss. A man that gits only one from it -won't need nothin' more'n a head stone and his name crossed offen the -roster. Git a good squint at him through them sights, jest be low his -belt, hold stiddy while you pull the trigger, and his name 'll be mud." - -"But fwhere is the powdher to make the ball go?" persisted Barney, -looking at the cartridge which Shorty had put in his hand. - -"The powder is behind the ball in that paper bag," explained Shorty. -"You tear the paper with your teeth this way, and pour the powder into -the muzzle." - -"Fhat," said Barney contemptuously, surveying the cartridge. "There -isn't enough powdher there to throw a ball as far as Oi can a pebble. -Fwhy, Oi used to put a whole handful o' powdher in the old blunderbuss. -Oi wud do betther to whack a man wid a shillelah. And fwhere is the -flint to stroike foire?" - -"O, the flintlock's played out, you flannel-mouthed Irishman," said -Shorty irritably. "It's as out-of-date as a bow and arrer. This's a -percussion-lock; don't you understand? This is a cap. You stick it right -on this nipple, an' when the hammer goes down off goes your gun. Don't -you see?" - -"Well, you can say, maybe, an' maybe you can't But Oi can't. Take your -old goon. Oi'll none avit. - -"May the divil fly away wid it, an' wid you, too. Oi'd rather have a -good shtick. Wid a shtick in me fist Oi'll take care of ony spalpeen -fwhat'll stand up in front av me. But wid a fool goon loike that Oi'd be -kilt at wance." - -While Si and Shorty were still worrying about what to do for arms for -the remainder of their men, they heard what seemed to be about a company -marching toward them through the darkness. - -"I suppose we had better stop here and stack our arms out of the way," -they heard the officer say who seemed to be in command. "We've got an -all-night's job before us, fixing up that bridge, and getting those -wagons across. Stack arms, boys, and leave your belts and traps with -them. There's lots of work down there for us." - -They could see dimly the men obeying the orders, and going down the bank -of the creek, where they started large fires to light them at their -work. - -"They have got a job ahead of 'em," remarked Shorty, looking in the -direction of the fires. - -"It'll take 'em all night and a large part o' tomorrow," said Si, -significantly, as a thought entered his mind. - -"Indeed it will," accorded Shorty, as the same idea occurred to him. -"An' they won't need their guns. They're only pioneers, anyway." - -"If they do," chimed in Si, "they kin pick up plenty more just as good -around somewhere, when daylight comes. That's what pioneers is for." - -"Si, you ketch on like a he snappin' turtle," said Shorty joyfully. -"We'll jest help ourselves to them guns and cartridge-boxes, and then -move our camp over a little ways, and skeet out airly in the mornin' for -the front, and we'll be all right. Don't say nothin' to the Lieutenant -about it. He'll be all right, and approve of it, but he mustn't know -anything of it officially. You git the men up and I'll go over and give -the Lieutenant the wink and tell him that we've found a much better -bivouac about a mile further on." - -While the pioneers were struggling with their task, and the air down by -the creek was filled with shouts and commands, Si and Shorty, with some -of the others, quietly appropriated enough stands of arms to complete -the equipment of their squad. - -Shorty took much credit for his honesty and forbearance that he did not -touch a single one of the pioneers' belongings but their arms. A little -later the squad was in bivouac a mile away. - -At the earliest dawn of Sept. 20 they were awake, and after a hasty -breakfast moving out the Rossville road for the battlefield. Only an -occasional shot from a nervous picket, peering into the deep fog, or -angry spatter from a squad of scouting cavalry disturbed the stillness -of the beautiful Autumn morning. The bright rays of the level sun were -bringing out the rich tints of the maples and dog woods on the mountain- -sides in all their gorgeous richness. Nature was smiling so benignantly -on every side that it needed the turmoil and rush in the winding roads -to remind one that somewhere near men were in bitter contrast with her -divine serenity. But the roads were crowded with ammunition and ration -wagons pushing out to the front, and with mounted officers and Orderlies -making their way as rapidly as possible back and for ward with orders -and messages. - -Lieut. Bowersox left the road with his detachment and made his way -across the fields, over ditches, ravines and creeks, through the -thickets and the brush, and at last came out on top of Missionary Ridge -at the north side of Rossville Gap. - -With eager eyes they scanned the landscape of billowy mountains and -hills to the east and south. - -A fog obscured all the lowlands, but far out columns of thin smoke -rising lazily on the still air showed where 150,000 men were marshaling -for bloody conflict. - -"That Major I spoke to," said Lieut. Bowersox, as Si and Shorty looked -anxiously in his face, "is on the corps staff, and he says the whole -infernal Southern Confederacy is out there for blood. They jumped us -yesterday like a pack of famished wolves. But Rosecrans had just got his -army together in time, though some of the divisions had to march till -their tongues were hanging out. All the boys were dead game, though, and -they stood the rebels off everywhere in great shape. He hasn't the -faintest idea where the 200th Ind. is. The divisions and brigades have -been jumped around from one end of the line to the other till he has but -little more idea where any regiment is than if it was in the moon. The -only way for us is to make our way as fast as we can to the front, where -they need every man, and trust to luck to find the regiment. We'll -probably not find it, but we'll find a place where they need us badly." - -"Le's go ahead, then," said Si firmly, "as fast as we can. We'd much -rather be with the regiment, but we'll take whatever comes wherever it -comes, and do our level best." - -"I know you will, Sergeant," answered the Lieutenant. "Take another look -over your men. See that they've all cartridges, and caution them to keep -cool, stay together, whatever happens, and listen to orders." - -Si felt a new and keener solicitude than he had ever before experienced. -Hitherto his only thoughts were as to his own safety and to do himself -credit in the discharge of his duty. Now he felt a heavy responsibility -for every man in the detachment. - -He walked slowly down the front of the line, and looked into every man's -face. They appeared anxious but resolute. The face of Wat Burnham, the -Englishman, had settled into more of a bull-dog look than ever. The -Irishmen seemed eager. Abel Waite, the boy on the left, was as excited -as if a game of foot-ball was to come off. He called out: - -"Say, Sergeant, I hain't got but 10 cartridges. Will that be enough?" - -"It'll have to be enough for the present," answered Si. "Be careful of -'em. Don't waste none. Be sure o' your man, aim low, git under his belt, -an' be careful to ketch your hind-sight before you pull the trigger. If -we need more cartridges we'll have to find more somewhere." - -From away beyond the green and yellow waves of hills came the crash of -the reopened battle. The ripping noise of regiments firing by volley was -hoarsely punctuated by the deep boom of the field-pieces. - -"Attention, company! Forward March!" shout ed Lieut. Bowersox. - -They swept down the mountain-side, over the next eminence, and so -onward. At every crest that they raised the uproar of the battle became -louder, the crash of musketry and the thunder of the can non more -continuous. The roads were so filled with teams being urged forward or -backward that they could not follow them, but had to make their way -through the woods and occasional fields, only keeping such direction as -would bring them quickest to some part of the stormy firing-line. - -The Lieutenant and Si and Shorty tried to make themselves believe that -the noise was receding, showing that the rebels were being driven. At -times it certainly was so, and then again it would burst out, - -"Nearer, clearer, deadlier than before," and their hearts would sink -again. A little past noon they came upon a hight, and there met a sight -which, for the moment, froze their blood. To their right front the whole -country was filled with men flying in the wildest confusion. All -semblance of regimental order was lost in the awful turmoil. Cannon, -sometimes drawn by two or three horses, sometimes by only one, were -plunging around amid the mob of infantrymen. Mounted officers were -wildly galloping in all directions. Colors were carried to crests and -ridges, and for a moment groups of men would gather around them, only to -melt again into the mob of fugitives. From far behind came the yells of -the exultant rebels, and a storm of shot and shell into the disorganized -mass. - -The boys' hearts sickened with the thought that the whole army was in -utter rout. For a minute or two they surveyed the appalling sight in -speech less despair. Then a gleam of hope shot into Si's mind. - -"Listen," he said; "the firing is heavier than ever over there toward -the center and left, and you can see that men are goin' up instid o' -runnin' away. It's Stone River over again. McCook's bin knocked to -pieces, just as he always is, but old Pap Thomas is standing there like -a lion, just as he did at Stone River, and he's holding Crittenden with -him." - -"You're right, Si," shouted the Lieutenant and Shorty. "Hip, hip, hooray -for the Army o' the Cumberland and old Pap Thomas!" - -They deflected to the left, so as to avoid being tangled up in the mass -of fugitives, and pushed forward more determinedly, if possible, than -ever. They kept edging to the right, for they wanted to reach Thomas's -right as nearly as possible, as that was the natural position of their -regiment. - -Presently, on mounting a roll of the ground, they saw sloping down from -them a few rods away, and running obliquely to their right, a small -"deadening," made by the shiftless farmer for his scanty corn crop. A -mob of fugitives flying through had trampled the stalks to the ground. -Si and Shorty had seen some of them and yelled at them to come up and -form on them, but the skedaddlers either would not or could not hear. - -Beyond the "deadening" came a horde of pursuing rebels, firing and -yelling like demons. The sight and sound swelled the boys' hearts with -the rage of battle. - -"Lieutenant," suggested Si, "there's no need o' goin' any further just -now for a fight. We can have just as nice a one right here as we can -find anywhere. I move that we line up back here and wait for them rebels -to come on, an' then git 'em on the flank with an enfilade that'll -salivate 'em in a holy minute." - -"The same idea has occurred to me," said the Lieutenant; "though I've -felt all along that we should not be diverted by anything from making -our way as fast as possible up to the main line. What do you think, -Shorty?" - -"My idee is to down a rebel whenever you git a good chance," said -Shorty. "'Do the work nearest thy hand,' I once heard an old preacher -say. Le's jump these hounds right here." - -"All right," assented the Lieutenant quite willingly. "Form the men just -back of the edge of the woods. Keep them out of sight, and caution them -not to shoot till they get the order. We must wait till we get the -rebels just right." - -They Posted the Men Behind The Trees. 197 - -Si and Shorty hurriedly posted the men behind trees and rocks, cautioned -them to wait for orders, and fire low, and then stationed themselves, -one at the right, and the other at the left of the irregular line. They -had scarcely done so when the rebels came surging through the -"deadening" in a torrent. They were urged on by two mounted officers -wear ing respectively the silver stars of a Colonel and a Major. - -"The feller on the bay hoss's my meat," shouted Shorty from the left. - -"All right," answered Si. "I'll take the chap on the roan." - -"Wait a little," cautioned the Lieutenant. "We'll get more of them if -you do. Now, let them have it. Ready Aim FIRE!" - -Down went the Colonel and Major and fully 50 of their men. The Indiana -recruits might be green as to tactics, but they knew how to level a gun. - -The startled rebels ceased yelling, and looked around in amazement in -the direction whence the unexpected fire came. A few began firing that -way, but the majority started to run back across the "deadening" to the -sheltering woods. Groups gathered around the fallen officers to carry -them back. - -"Load as fast as you can, boys," commanded the Lieutenant. "That was a -good one. Give them an other." - -The young Irishmen were wild with excitement, and wanted to rush down -and club the rebels, but the Lieutenant restrained them, though he could -not get them to reload their guns. As Si was bringing down his gun he -noticed the Englishman aiming at the groups about the officers. - -"Don't shoot them. Fire at the others," Si called out, while he himself -aimed at a man who was try ing to rally his comrades. - -"W'y the bloody 'ell shouldn't Hi shoot them the same has the hothers?" -snarled the Englishman, firing into the group. "They're all bloody -rebels." - -By the time the second round was fired the "deadening" was clear of all -the rebels but those who had been struck. The others were re-forming on -the knoll beyond, and a field-piece was hurried up to their assistance, -which threw a shell over at the line. - -"We had better move off," said the Lieutenant. "They're forming out -there to take us in flank, and we can't hold them back. We have done all -that we can here, and a mighty good job, too. We have saved a lot of our -men and salted a good bagful of rebels. Attention! File left March!" - -"That was a mighty good introduction for the boys," said Si to Shorty as -they moved on through the woods. "They begin to see how the thing's -done; and didn't they act splendidly? I'm proud of Injianny." - -"Sergeant, didn't I do well?" asked Abel Waite, in the tone that he -would have inquired of his teacher about a recitation. "I done just as -you told me. I kep' my eye on the tall feller in front, who was wavin' -his gun and yellin' at the rest to come on. I aimed just below his belt, -an' he went down just like I've seen a beef when pap shot him." - -"Good boy," said Si, patting him on the shoul der. "You're a soldier -already." - - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. THE TERRIFIC STRUGGLE THE END OF THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA. - -LIEUT. Bowersox, Si, Shorty and the recruits left the woods and entered -a large clearing, in the midst of which was a log cabin, with a few rude -outbuildings. Over it flew the yellow flag of the hospital service, and -beyond could be seen the parked trains and other evidences of the line- -of-battle. - -The roar of the battle would have told them as much, for it was now -deafening. The earth seemed to throb and the trees shake with the awful -shocks. As they passed the hospital they saw a grewsome pile of -amputated legs and arms, while the ground around about was filled with -wounded, whose groans pierced through the roar of battle. - -James Bradshaw and Simeon Wheelwright, the two tall, stalwart men who -had stood on the right and who had shown great coolness during the -fight, gave one look at the dismembered limbs, turned pale as death, -gasped, and fell in a faint. - -"Forward! Can't stop to pay attention to them," commanded the -Lieutenant, in whom the battle-fever was burning. - -Though still more than two miles from the low crest of Snodgrass Hill, -where Gen. Thomas, with the remainder of the Army of the Cumberland, was -standing savagely at bay against the fierce assaults of Bragg's and -Longstreet's overwhelming numbers, they were soon in the midst of the -wild ruck and confusion of the rear of a great battle. Miles of wagons -were being urged hither and yon, some times in accordance with -intelligent orders by officers, more often from the panicky fears of -wagon-masters and teamsters; riderless horses with saddles under their -bellies were galloping frantically around; squads of artillerymen in -search of ammunition were storming about, cursing cowardly teamsters, -whom they could not find; streams of wounded men were trying to make -their way to the hospitals; officers were yelling and swearing in their -attempts to rally shirks and cowards who had fled from the front; men -from regiments which had been broken and scattered by the fierce -assaults were trying to find their colors; Colonels whose regiments had -been ordered up from the rear were fiercely forcing their way forward, -with many dire objurgations on all who impeded their progress. - -It was a scene to discourage any but the stoutest heart, yet it only -wrought up the boys to greater eagerness to get through to the firing- -line. - -The smoke-crowned crest of Snodgrass Hill was seen but half a mile away. -They could make out the ragged, irregular line of blue constantly -vailing itself in sulphurous vapor as it poured murderous volleys into -the enemy. The shrill yell of the rebels as they renewed the charge, and -the deep-toned cheer of the Union soldiers as they repulsed it, reached -their ears in the momentary lulls of the firing. - -So far, in spite of all deterrents, they had brought every man through -except the two who had fainted at the hospital. Everyone had shown true -metal. Little Abel Waite had particularly distinguished him self by -skillful dodging under wagons and past flanks, in order to keep up with -the swift pace of the longer-legged men. - -They had as yet found no one in all the throng to give them the least -information as to their regiment, when Si spied a member of Co. Q -walking deliberately back, holding the wrist of his shattered left hand -in his right, with his fingers compressing the artery to restrain the -flow of blood. - -"There's Silas Peckham," exclaimed Si, running up to him. "Badly hurt, -Sile?" - -"No," answered Silas, more coolly than if he had stubbed his toe. "Left -hand's gone on a strike. That's all. Wisht I could find a doctor to fix -it up so I could git back to the boys. They're havin' an awful tussle up -there, an' need me bad. Better hurry up, Si. Don't waste no time on me. -I'll find a doctor soon an' be back with you." - -"Where's the regiment, Sile?" asked the Lieutenant. - -"Right up there to the left o' them tall hickories," answered Silas, -pointing with his bloody hand. "To the right o' that battery, you see -there. That's our bully old battery at work. Greatest battery in the -army. I've kept my eye on the place, because I want to git back as -soon's I kin find the Surgeon. Ain't much left o' the regiment, or -battery either, for that matter; but they're raisin' hell with the -Johnnies every time, and don't you forgit it. Capt. McGillicuddy's in -command." - -"Capt. McGillicuddy?" said the Lieutenant. "Why, he's the junior Captain -in the regiment." - -"He was yisterday mornin', but he's now senior to everybody that's -alive," answered Silas. "The Kunnel wuz killed yisterday forenoon. The -Lootenant-Kunnell held out about three hours an' then he got it for -keeps, an' the Major tuck command an' stuck out till nigh evenin', when -they knocked him. - -"This mornin' the Captains 's bin going down so fast that I couldn't -keep track of 'em, till Capt. McGillicuddy was the only one left, an' -he's swearin' that the rebels never run no bullet that could hit him. -The Adjutant's acting Lootenant-Kunnel an' Major both to-wunst, and -shootin' a gun when he hain't nothin' else to do. But the boys that's -left 's stayers, I tell you. They've jest stuck their toenails into that -hilltop there, an' every time them howlin' rebels come yippin' an' ki- -yi-in' out o' the woods they send 'em back on the dead run. But they -want you up there bad. You've got more than's left in the regiment. -Hurry up. I'll be back with you jest as soon's I kin find a doctor to -cooper me up a little." - -"Forward Quick time March!" shouted the Lieutenant. "Guide on those tall -hickories." - -Onward they rushed full into the smoke that drifted backward down the -hill. As they gained the crest the air became clearer, and they saw the -sadly-shrunken remnant of their regiment strung in an irregular line -along the forward edge. Some were binding up wounds more or less severe, -some were searching the boxes of the dead and wounded for cartridges, -some were leaning on their hot guns, looking curiously into the woods at -the foot of the slope into which the rebels had fled. - -Every face was blackened with powder almost beyond recognition. The -artillerymen to the left were feverishly swabbing out their guns and -trying to cool them off, and bringing up everything in the shape of -ammunition from the limbers in the rear. - -Capt. McGillicuddy was leaning on his sword at the right of the line, -intently watching everything. He looked sharply around, when the men -raised a cheer on recognizing Si and the rest, and coming back shook -Lieut. Bowersox warmly by the hand, saying: - -"Great God, Lieutenant, I've always been glad to see you, but I never -was so glad to see a man in my life as I am you this minute. How many -men did you bring?" - -"I've got 128 with me," answered the Lieutenant. "What's the situation?" - -"You have? Well, you've got more than we have left. You'll act as Major. -Poor Wilkinson just got his dose. You can see him lying down there in -the rear of the left. Put your men in anywhere. Mix them up with the -others.. It don't matter much about formation. The main thing's to stand -and shoot. The rebels have been charging us all after noon, but we have -whipped them back every time. - -"You can see our work out there (pointing to the slope in front, which -was literally covered with dead and wounded). I've thought every time -that they couldn't stand another such a slaughter, but they've rallied -in those woods there and come out again with their infernal yell, just -as before. The last time it seemed to me that we just swept them off the -face of the earth, and I don't see how in God's name they can stand any -more of that sort of thing. It's worse killing than we gave them at -Stone River. It seems to me that hell has let out for noon, and sent all -its devils to reinforce them. But it will soon be night now, when -they'll have to stop. If they won't we'll have to depend on the bayonet, -for we haven't five rounds apiece left, and I can't get more anywhere." - -Si and Shorty had been distributing the detachment along the line, and -had posted the Englishman and his squad of Irishmen, with themselves, -around the tattered colors, which were now in the hands of the last -survivor of the color guard, who was himself wounded. - -Dusk was fast coming on, when the woods beyond the foot of the slope -began to darken again with masses of men arraying in column of assault. - -"They're coming again," called out Capt. McGillicuddy. "Lieut. Bowersox, -look out there for the left. Men, if we haven't stopped them when we've -fired out last shot, we'll fix bayonets and charge them. We must keep -them off this hill or die right here." - -He was answered with cheers. A demoniac yell from 10,000 fierce throats -rang through the woods, and the next instant thunder and flames burst -from the sweeping crescent of rebel cannon, and the ground in front of -the foot of the hill was hidden from view by the tide of men rushing -over it. - -A fierce storm of cannon and musketry answered from the crest of the -hill. As they reloaded, Si and Shorty saw in quick glances that the -rebel line to the right and left seemed beaten to a standstill by the -terrific storm which fell upon them, but in their immediate front a body -of men, apparently a regiment, kept stubbornly forging forward. Upon -their flag, held gallantly aloft, could be made out the let ters "Miss." - -By the time every shot in the cartridge-boxes had been fired at them -they had forced their way half-up the slope. - -"Attention, 200th Indiana," shouted Capt. McGillicuddy. "Dress on the -colors. Fix bayonets." - -"They'uns 's Injiannians," shouted the rebel Color-Sergeant, waving his -flag defiantly. "Come on, you Hoosiers. We'uns 's Mississippians. -Remember Buny Visty. Injiannians 's cowards." - -"Shorty, le's have that 'ere flag," said Si. - -"Le's," said Shorty, pushing around the ring that locked his bayonet on. - -"Forward March Charge!" shouted Capt. McGillicuddy. - -They Had a Delirious Remembrance of the Mad Whirl. 211 - -Of the mad whirl of an eternity of events in the next few minutes -neither Si nor Shorty had anything but a delirious remembrance. They -could only recollect the fierce rush of the lightning-like play of -bayonet and gun-barrel in the storm-center around the rebel colors. Each -after an instant's savage fencing had sent his bayonet home in his -opponent's body. Si had sprung at and seized the rebel colors, only to -fall, as he grasped them, from a bullet out of the revolver of a rebel -Captain, whom Shorty instantly bayoneted, and fell himself from a blow -across the head with a musket-barrel. - -The man who struck him was bayoneted by Abel Waite, who was dancing -around the edges of the melee like a malignant little fiend, prodding -wherever he could get a chance at a rebel body. The Irishmen, yelling -like demons, were using their guns like shilelahs, and crushing heads in -every direction, while Wat Burnham had thrown his musket aside, and was -rushing at everybody with his mighty fists. - -At length the rebels fled, leaving the Indianians in possession of their -colors and the hillside. - -"Some of you find Lieut. Bowersox, and bring him here," said Capt. -McGillicuddy, sitting up, and beginning to twist a handkerchief around -his thigh, to form a tourniquet. "Lieutenant, you all right?" - -"Nothing more than a mere scratch on the side of my head," said the -Lieutenant, wiping away the blood. - -"Well, Lieutenant, you'll have to take command of the regiment. I had a -personal altercation with that Mississippi Colonel lying over there, and -he put a bullet through my thigh. Get the men together, pick up our -wounded, and fall back to the top of the hill again." - -"I'm afraid there's no use of picking up Corp'l Klegg and Shorty," said -the Lieutenant, with tears in his eyes. "They got the rebel flag, but -they're lying there stiff and cold." - -"Well, bring them back, anyway, so we can lay them beside the other -gallant boys who have fallen to-day." - - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. IN THE HOSPITAL REMOVED FROM THE BATTLEFIELD TO THE -HOSPITAL AT CHATTANOOGA. - -FOR a short time a silence that seemed oppressive followed the fierce -turmoil of the last charge of the rebels upon Snodgrass Hill and its -repulse. Both sides had exhausted themselves in the awful grapple, and -had to regain breath and thought. Then the night was pierced by the -agonizing groans of the innumerable wounded, the stern commands of -officers to their men to re-form, the calls of scattered men seeking -their regiments and companies. - -The sadly-shrunken remnant of the unconquer able 200th Ind. gathered -around its regimental colors, on the front of the crest of Snodgrass -Hill, and grimly, silently prepared for the next event, whatever it -might be. The wounds of those still able to fight were bound up, and -they resumed their places in line. The worst hurt were helped or carried -back to the busy Surgeon under the shelter of the hill. The newly-dead -were brought up and added to the row of those who had already fought -their last battle. Cartridge-boxes of both dead and wounded were -carefully searched for remaining cartridges. Si and Shorty were laid at -the end of the long row. - -The chill air of the evening began to revive Si and Shorty. Si's brain -responded long before any of his muscles. At first it seemed the vaguest -and most shadowy of dreams. There was a dim consciousness of lying -somewhere. Where it was, how he came there, what was going on around he -had not the slightest idea nor desire to know. There was just the -feeling of being there, without any sensation of comfort or discomfort, -wish or longing. - -One by one, and very slowly, other nerves awoke. He became conscious -that there was a sharp stone or knot under his head, which hurt, and he -tried to move it, but queerly his head would not move, and then he found -that neither would his hands. This was faintly puzzling, as things are -in dreams. Then his throat became on fire with thirst, and somehow there -came a dream of the deliciously cool well on the farm at home, the -bucket covered with green moss swinging over it, the splash of cool -water when it was lowered, the trough by the side, where they used to -pour water for the fowls to drink, the muddy spot around, where water -plants grew on the splashings and drippings. Then were visions of the -eternal, parching thirst of the damned, which he had often heard -preachers describe, and he was conscious of a faint curiosity as to -whether he had died and waked up in the home of the lost. - -Still not a muscle waked up to obey his will, and he seemed indifferent -whether it did or not. Then he forgot everything again, until presently -his burning throat recalled his consciousness. - -He felt the cold, bracing air in his nostrils, and slowly, very slowly -at first, he began to hear and understand the sounds around him. The -shriek of a wounded comrade carried past, whose leg had been shattered, -first sounded like the hum of bees, and finally translated itself into -something like its true meaning, but he had no comprehension or sympathy -for its misery. - -He tried to make some sound himself, but his tongue was as hypnotized as -his other muscles, and refused to obey his will. Yet at the moment he -did not seem to care much. His wishes were as numb as his tendons and -sinews. He became shadowly conscious of his comrades gathering around -him, picking him up, carrying him back up the hill, and laying him down -again. This relieved the sharp pain from the stone under his head; but -when they laid him down again his head fell too low. He heard the murmur -of their voices, and felt their hands searching his pockets for -cartridges. - -Consciousness began returning more swiftly, though the muscles were yet -paralyzed. He could feel to the tips of his fingers, yet he could not -move them. He began to understand the words spoken about him, and -comprehend their meaning. The first sentence that filtered its way to -his brain was Lieut. Bowersox's order to the regiment: - -"The orders are to fall back quietly. We'll follow the 1st Oshkosh, on -our right. As soon as it is well down the hill we'll move by the right -flank, and fall in behind it. Our wagon is right at the bottom of the -hill. Those that are not able to march will start now, and get in it. It -will move right after the regiment. Don't anybody say a word of this -above his breath. The rebels are listening sharply for our movements. We -dare not even cheer, for fear they'll find out how few are left of us. -All of you keep a lookout, and follow right after me when I start, for I -won't give any order." - -Then all his consciousness seemed to wake up at once into an agony of -fear of being left behind to fall into the hands of the rebels. He made -a desperate effort to call out, but his tongue seemed dry and useless as -a cornhusk in his parched mouth, and his throat too burning hot to -perform its office. Nor could he lift a finger nor move a toe. - -He found room for anger at Shorty that he did not look him up, and -satisfy himself as to his condition, and Lieut. Bowersox and the rest -seemed selfishly thoughtful of their own safety and neglectful of his. - -He listened in agony to the regiment on the right marching off, to the -cautions and admonitions given those who were carrying off the badly- -wounded, and then to Lieut. Bowersox starting off with the right of the -200th Ind. - -Then he heard little Abel Waite say: - -"I know that Si Klegg has some things on him that his folks' d like to -have. I know where they live. I'm goin' to git 'em, and send 'em to -'em." - -"Make haste, then, young feller," he heard Wat Burnham growl. "Don't let -the rebels ketch yer. We're movin' now." - -He heard Abel Waite's steps running toward him, and felt his hands -thrust into his blouse pocket over his breast. Then the boy said with a -start of surprise: - -"Why, he's alive yet. Come here, Wat." - -Wat and the Irishmen hastened to him. He felt - -Wat's hand laid on his breast, and then held over his mouth. - -"'E's certainly warm yet. Hand 'e breathes." - -Shorty made a violent effort, and summoned enough strength to reach over -and touch the Englishman's foot. - -"The tall feller's alive, too," said Wat. - -"We must take 'em along with us," said Abel Waite excitedly. - -"Yes, but 'ow?" growled the Englishman. "Don't speak so loud, you young -brat. Do you want to hopen hup that 'ell's kitchen hagin?" - -"The Liftinant's far down the hill wid the regiment," said Barney -McGrath. "There's no toime to sind for him. Here, lit's pick thim up an' -carry thim down to the wagon." - -He put his hand under Si's shoulder. The others did the same, Wat -lifting Shorty's feet. - -"Halt, there, you Yanks, and surrender," said a stern voice just behind -Wat. - -Wat looked back over his shoulder and saw a single adventurous rebel -who, divining what was going on, had slipped forward in the darkness, -with his gun leveled on the squad bearing Si. Wat realized instantly -that the rebel must be suppressed with out alarm to others that might be -behind him. He dropped Shorty's foot, and with a backward sweep of his -mighty right took the rebel in the stomach with such force as to double -him up. The next instant Wat had his throat in his terrific grip, and -tried to tear the windpipe from him. Then he flung the rebel forward -down the hill, gathered up Shorty's feet again, and gave the command: - -"Hall right. Go a'ead, boys, quick has you can." - -With great difficulty they made their way over the wreckage of battle -down the hill toward where they expected to find the regimental wagon. -But it had received all that it could hold of its ghastly freight and -moved off. - -They were is despair for a few minutes, until Abel Waite discovered an -abandoned wagon near by, with one mule still hitched to it. Next they -found a wounded artillery horse which had been turned loose from his -battery. He was hitched in, and Si and Shorty were laid on the layer of -ammunition-boxes which still covered the bottom of the bed. - -"Who'll drive the bloody team?" growled Wat. "Hi never druv a 'oss hin -my life. 'Ere, Barney, you get hin the saddle." - -"Not Oi," answered Barney. "Oi niver could droive ayven a pig, on the -brightest day that shone. Oi'll not fool wid a couple av strange horses, -a wagon-load av foire an' brimstone, an' a brace av dead men, in the -midst av Aygytian darkness. Not Oi." - -"Here, I kin drive two horses, anyway," said Abel Waite, climbing into -the saddle. "I've done that much on the farm." - -They pushed off into the road marked by the dark line of troops moving -silently toward McFarland's Gap, and after some contest with other -drivers secured a place behind one of the regiments of their brigade. - -A couple of miles ahead Forrest's cavalry was making a noisy dispute of -the army's retreat, the woods were on fire, and the fences on either -side of the road were blazing. - -The long line was halted in anxious expectation for a little while, as -the storm of battle rose, and the men looked into each other's faces -with sickening apprehension, for it seemed much like defeat and capture. -Then loud cheers, taken up clear down the line', rose as Turchin's -Brigade, by a swift bayonet charge, swept away all opposition, scattered -the rebels to the shelter of the woods, and reopened the way. But the -rebels still continued to fire long distance shots at the road as -outlined by the burn ing fences. - -The Dead Being Collected After the Battle. 220 - -Though one of his team was wounded, Abel Waite had little difficulty in -keeping his place in column until the burning lane was reached. The -regiment ahead had gone through on the double-quick, and teams as fast -as they could be lashed. - -"What'll we do now?" he called out to the others in his boyish treble. -"I can't git these plugs out of a walk. If we go ahead the fire'll bust -the ammunition, and send us all sky-huntin'. If we stop here them rebels -'ll git us, sure." - -"Go a'ead, Habe," growled Wat, after a moment's thought. "We can't 'elp -you, but we'll stay wi' you. Hif she busts, she busts, hand that's hall -there'll be hof hit hor hof us. We'll stick by the wagon, though, till -she busts, hand then nobuddy but the crows 'll hever find hany hof hus. -Go a'ead, you bloody brat." - -"Cut me one o' them young hickories for a gad," said Abel, pointing to -the brush by the side of the road, "and I'll git as good time out o' -these poor brutes as they kin make, if I skin 'em alive." - -Abel lashed his animals with all the strength of his young arm, and -succeeded in keeping them in something like a trot. The men ran -alongside, and fought the fire as well as they were able. Several times -the wagon-cover caught fire from the intense heat, but it was at once -beaten out by hats and blouses, and blouses were laid over the holes to -protect them against the sparks. - -They succeeded at last in getting through the fire-bordered road without -an explosion, but they were all so exhausted that they could not move -another step until they rested. The poor horse lay down and refused to -get up. - -Wat and Abel looked in to see how Si and Shorty had fared. The jolting -of the wagon and the cold night air had at first revived them so that -they could speak. Then they swooned again from the effects of the heat -and the stifling smoke, and were speech less and motionless when Wat and -Abel looked in. - -"We've 'ad hall hour trouble for nothink," said Wat disconsolately, as -he felt them over. "The 'eat and smoke's killed 'em." - -"Not by a durned sight," slowly gasped Shorty. "Seen sicker dogs'n this -git well. Nearly dead for a drink o' water, though. Then I'll be all -right." - -Abel snatched a canteen, ran to a branch a little way off, filled it, -and returning, put it to Shorty's lips. - -"Jehosephat, how good that tastes," said Shorty, speaking still faintly, -but far more freely than at first, after he had drained the canteen. -"Sonny, run and git some more; and mind you fill the canteen full this -time. I feel as if I could drink up the Mississippi River. Say, boys, -what's happened? Appearintly, I got a sock-dologer on my head from some -feller who thought I was too fresh. I'm afraid I'll have a spell o' -headache. But we got the flag, didn't we?" - -"Yo're bloody right we did," said Wat; "hand we wolloped them bloomin' -rebels till they 'unted their 'oles hin the woods." - -"That's good enough," said Shorty, sinking back. - -"The column's movin' agin," said Abel Waite, turn ing his attention to -his team. - -Shortly after daybreak the team limped painfully up the slope of Mission -Ridge, through Rossville Gap, on either side of which stood Thomas's -indomitable army in battle array, sternly defying the rebel hosts of -Bragg and Longstreet, which swarmed over the hills and valleys in front, -but without much apparent appetite for a renewal of the dreadful fray. - -"Where do you men belong? What have you got in that wagon? Where are you -going?" demanded the Provost officer in the road. - -"We belong to the 200th Hinjianny. We've got two badly-wounded men and -ha lot o' hammynition in the wagon. We want to find our regiment," an -swered Wat Burnham. - -"Stop your wagon right there. We need all the ammunition we can get. -Lift your wounded men into that ambulance, and then go up to that side -of the gap. Your division is up there somewhere." - -It was late in the afternoon before the overworked Surgeon in the field -hospital at Chattanooga, in which Si and Shorty were finally deposited, -found time to examine them. - -"You got a pretty stiff whack on your head, my man," he said to Shorty, -as he finished looking him over; "but so far as I can tell now it has -not fractured your skull. You Hoosiers have mighty hard heads." - -"Reglar clay-knob whiteoak," whispered Shorty; "couldn't split it with a -maul and wedge. Don't mind that a mite, since we got that flag. But -how's my pardner over there?" - -"I think you'll pull through all right," continued the Surgeon, "if you -don't have concussion of the brain. You'll have to be—" - -"No danger o' discussion of the brains," whispered Shorty. "Don't carry -'em up there, where they're liable to get slubbed. Keep 'em in a safer -place, where there's more around 'em. But how's my pardner?" - -"You'll come through all right," said the Surgeon smiling. "You're the -right kind to live. You've got grit. I'll look at your partner now." - -He went to Si and examined him. Shorty turned on his side and watched -him with eager eyes. His heart sickened as he saw the Surgeon's face -grow graver as he proceeded. The Surgeon probed the bullet's track with -his fingers, and drew out a piece of folded letter paper stained with -blood. Instinctively he unfolded it, and read through the ensanguined -smears, written in a cramped school-girl hand: - -"Dear Si: Though I did not have the heart to say it, Ime yours till -death, and Ime sure you feel the same way. Annabel." - -"I'm much afraid the end has come too soon to a brave as well as loving -heart," said the Surgeon sadly. - -"Doctor, he can't die. He mustn't die," said Shorty in agony. "The -regiment can't spare him. He's the best soldier in it, and he's my -pardner." - -"He may live, but it's a very slender chance," said the Surgeon. "Men -live in this war against all science and experience, and it is possible -that he may." - -"Major," said Lieut. Bowersox, coming in, "I understand that two of my -men were brought in here wounded. The report which was sent North this -morning gave them as killed. If you have them here I want to correct it -and save their people sorrow." - -"One of them," answered the Surgeon, "has no thought of dying, and will, -I'm sure, pull through. I am sorry I cannot say the same for the other. -It he lives it will be a wonder." - -"Neither of us is a-going to die till we've put down this damned -rebellion, and got home and married our girls," gasped Shorty with grim -effort. "You can jist telegraph that home, and to ole Abe Lincoln, and -to all whom it may concern." - -And he fell back exhausted on his blanket. - - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. A DISTURBING MESSAGE THE DEACON HURRIEDLY LEAVES FOR -CHATTANOOGA. - -THAT evening Lieut. Bowersox sent a telegram to Deacon Klegg. It had to -be strictly limited to 10 words, and read: - -JOSIAH KLEGG, ESQ., - -Somepunkins Station, Ind.: - -Josiah not killed. Hospital at Chattanooga. Badly wounded. E. C. -BOWERSOX. - -It did not arrive at Sumpunkins Station, three miles from the Deacon's -home, until the next forenoon. The youth who discharged the multifarious -duties of Postmaster, passenger, freight and express-agent, baggage- -master, and telegraph operator at Sumpunkins Station laboriously spelled -out the dots and dashes on the paper strip in the instrument. He had -barely enough mastery of the Morse alphabet to communicate the routine -messages relating to the railroad's business aided by the intelligence -of the conductors and engineers as to what was expected of them. This -was the first outside message that he had ever received, and for a while -it threatened to be too much for him, especially as the absence of -punctuation made it still more enigmatical. He faithfully transcribed -each letter as he made it out and then the agglomeration read: - -"Josiamn otkildho spitalat chatano ogabadl ywounded ecbower sox." - -"Confound them smart operators at Louisville and Jefferson ville," he -grumbled, scanning the scrawl. "They never make letters plain, and don't -put in half of 'em, just to worrit country operators. I'd like to take a -club to 'em. There's no sort o' sense in sich sending. A Philadelphia -lawyer couldn't make nothing out of it. But I've got to or get a -cussing, and mebbe the bounce. I'll try it over again, and see if I can -separate it into words. Why in thunder can't they learn to put a space -be tween the words, and not jumble the letters all to gether in that -fool fashion?" - -The next time he wrote it out: - -"J. O. S. I am not kild Hospital at Chattanooga badly wounded E. C. -Bower sox." - -"That begins to look like something," said he, wiping the sweat from his -forehead. "But who is J. O. S.? Nobody o' them initials in this neighbor -hood. Nor E. C. Bower. Deacon Klegg can't know any of 'em. Then, how's -the hospital badly wounded Bower? What's that about his socks? I'll have -to try it over again as soon as No. 7, freight, gets by." - -After No. 7 had gotten away, he tackled the message again: - -"No, that sixth letter's not an m, but an h. H is four dots, and m is -two dashes. It's specks in the paper that makes it look like an h. I'll -put in some letters where they're needed. Now let's see how it'll read:" - -228 SI KLEGG. - -"Josiah Nott killed Hospital at Chattanooga. Badly wounded E. C. Bower -sox." - -"That seems to have more sense in it, but I don't know any Josiah Nott -in this country. Does it mean that he killed a man named Hospital at -Chattanooga, and badly wounded E. C. Bower in the socks? That don't seem -sense. I'll try it again." - -The next time he succeeded in making it read: - -"Josiah Nott killed. Hospital at Chattanooga. Badly wounded E. C. -Bower's ox." - -"There, that's best I can do," he said, surveying the screed. "It'll -have to go that way, and let the Deacon study it out. He's got more time -'n I have, and mebbe knows all about it. I can't spend no more time on -it. No. 3, passenger, from the West 's due in 20 minutes, and I've got -to get ready for it. Good luck; there comes the Deacon's darky now, with -a load of wheat. I'll send it out by him." - -The operator wrote out his last version of the message on a telegraph- -blank, inclosed it in a West ern Union envelope, which he addressed to -Deacon Klegg, and gave to Abraham Lincoln, with strong injunctions to -make all haste back home with it. - -Impressed with these, Abraham, as soon as he delivered his grain to the -elevator, put his team to a trot, and maintained it until he reached -home. - -Everything about the usually cheerful farm-house was shrouded in -palpable gloom. The papers of the day before, with their ghastly lists -of the dead and wounded, had contained Si's and Shorty's names, besides -those of other boys of the neighborhood, in terrific, unmistakable -plainness. There were few homes into which mourning had not come. The -window curtains were drawn down, the front doors closed, no one appeared -on the front porch, and it seemed that even the dogs and the fowls were -op pressed with the general sadness, and forebore their usual cheerful -utterances. Attired in sober black, with eyes red from weeping, and with -camphor bottle near, Mr. Klegg sat in Si's room, and between her fits of -uncontrollable weeping turned over, one after another, the reminders of -her son. There were his bed, his clothes, which she had herself -fashioned in loving toil for him; the well-thumbed school-books which -had cost him so many anxious hours, his gun and fishing rod. All these -were now sacred to her. Elsewhere in the house his teary-eyed sisters -went softly and silently about their daily work. - -The father had sought distraction in active work, and was in the -cornfield, long corn-knife in hand, shocking up the tall stalks with a -desperate energy to bring forgetfulness. - -Abraham Lincoln burst into the kitchen, and taking the dispatch from his -hat said: - -"Hyah am a papeh or sumfin dat de agent down at de station done tole me -to bring hyah jest as quick as I done could. He said hit done come ober -a wire or a telugraph, or sumfin ob dat ere sort, and you must hab hit -right-a-way." - -"O, my; it's a telegraph dispatch," screamed Maria with that sickening -apprehension that all women have of telegrams. "It's awful. I can't tech -it. Take it Sophy." - -"How can I," groaned poor Sophia, with a fresh outburst of tears. "But I -suppose I must." - -The mother heard the scream and the words, and hurried into the room. - -"It's a telegraph dispatch, mother," said both the girls as they saw -her. - -"Merciful Father," ejaculated Mrs. Klegg, sinking into a chair in so -nearly a faint that Maria ran into the next room for the camphor-bottle, -while Sophy rushed outside and blew the horn for the Deacon. Presently -he entered, his sleeves rolled to the elbow over his brawny arms, and -his shirt and pantaloons covered with the spanish-needles and burrs -which would grow, even in so well-tilled fields as Deacon Klegg's. - -"What's the matter, mother? What's the matter, girls?" he asked -anxiously. - -Mrs. Klegg could only look at him in speechless misery. - -"We've got a telegraph dispatch," finally answered Maria, bursting in a -torrent of tears, into which Sophia joined sympathetically, "and we know -it's about poor Si." - -"Yes, it must be about poor Si; nobody else but him," added Sophia with -a wail. - -The father's face grew more sorrowful than be fore. "What does it say?" -he nerved himself to ask, after a moment's pause. - -"We don't know," sobbed Maria. "We haint opened it. We're afraid to. -Here it is." - -The father took it with trembling hand. "Well," he said after a little -hesitation, "it can't tell nothin' no worse than we've already heard. -Let's open it. Bring me my specs." - -Maria ran for the spectacles, while her father, making a strong effort -to calm himself, slit open the envelope with a jack-knife, adjusted his -glasses, and read the inclosure over very slowly. - -"Josiah Nott killed Hospital at Chattanooga badly wounded E. C. Bower's -ox. What on airth does that mean? I can't for the life o' me make it -out." - -"Read it over again, pap," said Maria, suddenly drying her eyes. - -The father did so. - -"Le' me read it, pap," said Maria, snatching the telegram from his hand. -"Josiah," said she, read ing. "That's Si's right name." - -"Certainly it is," said her mother, reviving. - -"Certainly; I didn't think o' that before," echoed the father. - -"Josiah not killed," continued she. "Good heavens, that's what that -means. They rebels has got hold o' the wires, and shook 'em and tangled -up the rest, but the beginnin's all straight." - -"I believe that Sam Elkins down at the station 's mixed it up," said -Sophia, with hope springing in her breast. "He never can get things -straight. He was in the class with me when I went to school, and too -dumb to come in when it rained. He was the worst writer, speller and -reader in the school. Think o' him being a telegraph operator. Why, he -couldn't spell well enough to make tally-marks on a door when you're -measurin' corn. Railroad was mighty hard up for help when it hired him. -Let me read that dispatch. 'Josiah not killed.' That means Si Klegg, as -sure's you're born. It can't mean nothin' else, or it wouldn't be -addressed to you, pap. 'Hospital at Chattanooga.' Chattanooga's near -where the battle was fought. 'Badly wounded.' That means Si's bin shot. -'E. C. Bower's ox.' What in the world can that be?" - -"Bowersox?" said her father, catching the sound. "Why, that's the name -o' the Lootenant Si and Shorty was under when they came home. Don't you -remember they told us about him? I remember the name, for a man named -Bowersox used to run a mill down on Bean-Blossom Crick, years ago, and I -wondered if he was his son. He's sent me that dispatch, and signed his -name. The Lord be praised for His never-endin' mercies. Si's alive, -after all. Le' me read that over again." - -He took the dispatch with shaking hands, but there was too much mist on -his glasses-, and he had to hand it back to Maria to read over again to -convince himself. - -"I'll tell you what let's do: Let's all get in the wagon and ride over -to the station, and get Sam Elkins to read the dispatch over again," -suggested Sophia. "I'll jest bet he's mummixed it up." - -"Don't blame him, Sophy," urged Maria. "I think the rebels has got at -the poles or wires and shook 'em, and mixed the letters up. It's just -like 'em." - -Sophy's suggestion was carried out. Abraham Lincoln was directed to get -out the spring wagon, and the Deacon helped hitch up, while the "women -folks" got ready. - -While they were at the station getting Sam Elkins to re-examine the dots -and dashes on his strip of paper, the Eastern express arrived, bringing -the morning papers. The Deacon bought one, and the girls nervously -turned to the war news. They gave a scream of exultation when they read -the revised returns of the killed and wounded, and found under head of -"Wounded, in Hospital at Chattanooga": - -"Corporal Josiah Klegg, Q, 200th Ind. - -"Private Daniel Elliott, Q, 200th Ind." - -"Mother and girls, I'm goin' to Chattanoogy on the next train," said the -Deacon. - -It was only a few hours until the train from the East would be along, -and grief was measurably forgotten in the joy that Si was still alive -and in the bustle of the Deacon's preparation for the journey. - -"No," he said, in response to the innumerable suggestions made by the -mother and daughters. "You kin jest set all them things back. I've bin -down there once, and learned something. I'm goin' to take nothin with me -but my Bible, a couple o' clean shirts, and my razor. A wise man learns -by experience." - -Mother and girls were inconsolable, for each had something that they -were sure "Si would like," and would "do him good," but they knew Josiah -Klegg, Sr., well enough to understand what was the condition when he had -once made up his mind. - -"If Si and Shorty's able to be moved," he consoled them with, "I'm going -to bring them straight back home with me, and then you kin nuss and -coddle them all you want to." - -The news of his prospective journey had flashed through the -neighborhood, so that he met at the station the relatives of most of the -men in Co. Q, each with a burden of messages and comforts for those who -were living, or of tearful inquiries as to those reported dead. - -He took charge of the letters and money, refused the other things, and -gave to the kin of the wounded and dead sympathetic assurances of doing -every thing possible. - -He had no particular trouble or advanture until he reached Nashville. -There he found that he could go no farther without procuring a pass from -the Provost-Marshal. At the Provosts's office he found a highly -miscellaneous crowd besieging that official for the necessary permission -to travel on the military railroad. There were more or less honest and -loyal speculators in cotton who were ready to take any chances in the -vicissitudes of the military situation to get a few bales of the -precious staple. There were others who were downright smugglers, and -willing to give the rebels anything, from quinine to gun-caps, for -cotton. There were sutlers, pedlers, and gamblers. And there were more -or less loyal citizens of the country south who wanted to get back to -their homes, some to be honest, law-abiding citizens, more to get in -communication with the rebels and aid and abet the rebellion. - -Deacon Klegg's heart sank as he surveyed the pushing, eager crowd which -had gotten there before him, and most of whom were being treated very -cavalierly by the Provost-Marshal. - -"No," he heard that official say to a man who appeared a plain farmer -like himself; "you not only can have no pass, but you can't stay in -Nashville an other day. I remember you. I've heard you tell that story -of a sick son in the hospital before. I remember all the details. You -haven't changed one. You're a smuggler, and I believe a spy. You've got -mule-loads of quinine somewhere in hiding, and may be gun-caps and other -munitions of war. If you know what's good for you, you'll take the next -train north, and never stop until you are on the other side of the Ohio -River. If you are in town to-morrow morning, I'll put you to work on the -fortifications, and keep you there till the end of the war. Get out of -my office at once." - -Others were turned away with similar brusqueness, until the Deacon was -in despair; but the though of Si on a bed of pain nerved him, and he -kept his place in the line that was pushing toward the Provost's desk. - -Suddenly the Provost looked over those in front of him, and fixing his -eye on the Deacon, called out: - -"Well, my friend, come up here. What can I do for you?" - -The Deacon was astonished, but in obedience to a gesture from the -Provost, left the line, and came up. - -"What's your name? Where are you from? What are you doing down here? -What do you want?" inquired the Provost, scanning him critically. - -The Deacon's eyes met his boldly, and he answered the questions -categorically. - -"Well, Mr. Klegg, you shall have a pass at once, and I sincerely hope -that you will find your son recovering. You probably do not remember me, -but I have seen you before, when I was on the circuit in Indiana. My -clerk there is writing out a pass for you. You will have to take the -oath of allegiance, and sign the paper, which I suppose you have no -objection to doing." - -"None in the world," answered the Deacon, surprised at the unexpected -turn of events. "I'll be only too glad. I was gittin' very scared about -my pass." - -"O, I have hard work here," said the Provost smiling, "in separating the -sheep from the goats, but I'm now getting to know the goats tolerably -well. There's you're pass, Deacon. A pleasant journey, and a happy -termination to it." - -The Deacon took out his long calf-skin wallet from his breast, put the -precious pass in it, carefully strapped it up again and replaced it, and -walked out of the office toward the depot. - -He had gone but a few steps from the building when he saw the man who -had been ordered out of the city by the Provost, and who seemed to be on -the lookout for the Deacon. He came up, greeted the Deacon effusively -and shook hands. - -"You're from Posey County, Ind., I believe? I used to live there myself. -Know Judge Drake?" - -"Very well," answered the Deacon a little stiffly, for he was on his -guard against cordial strangers. - -"You do;" said the stranger warmly. "Splendid man. Great lawyer. Fine -judge. I had a great deal to do with him at one time." - -"Probably he had a great deal to do with you," thought the Deacon. "He -was a terror to evil-doers." - -"Say, my friend," said the stranger abruptly, "you got a pass. I -couldn't. That old rascal of a Provost-Marshal's down on me because I -wouldn't let him into a speculation with me. He's on the make every -time, and wants to hog everything. Say, you're a sly one. You worked him -fine on that wounded son racket. I think I'd like to tie to you. I'll -make it worth your while to turn over that pass to me. It'll fit me just -as well as it does you. I'll give you $50 to let me use that pass just -two days, and then I'll return it to you." - -"Why, you're crazy," gasped the Deacon. - -"O, come off, now," said the other impatiently. "Business is business. I -haint no time to waste. It's more'n it's worth to me, but I'll make it -$100, and agree to be back on this spot to-morrow night with your pass. -You can't make $100 as easy any other way." - -"I tell you, you're crazy," said the Deacon with rising indignation. -"You can't have that pass for no amount o' money. I'm goin' to see my -wounded son." - -"That's a good enough gag for the Provost, but I understand you, in -spite of your hayseed airs. Say, I'll make it $250." - -"I tell you, you old fool," said the Deacon angrily, "I won't sell that -pass for a mint o' money. Even if I wasn't goin' to see my son I -wouldn't let you have it under any circumstances, to use in your -traitorous business. Let go o' my coat, if you know what's good for -you." - -"Now, look here," said the stranger; "I've made you a mighty fair -proposition more'n the pass's worth to you. If you don't accept it -you'll wish you had. I'm onto you. I'll go right back to the Provost and -let out on you. I know enough to settle your hash mighty sudden. Do you -hear me?" - -It was very near train time, and the Deacon was desperately anxious to -not miss the train. He had already wasted more words on this man than he -usually did on those he didn't like, and he simply ended the colloquy -with a shove that sent the impertinent stranger into the gutter as if a -mule had kicked him there, hurried on to the depot, and managed to get -on just as the train was moving out. - -It was night, and he dozed in his seat until the train reached -Bridgeport, Ala., when everybody was turned out of the train, and a -general inspection of the passengers made. - -"Very sorry for you, sir," said the Lieutenant; "but we can't let you go -on. Your pass is all right up to this point, but the Commandant at -Nashville has no authority here. Orders are very strict against any more -civilians coming to Chattanooga under any pretext. Rations are very -short, and there is danger of their being much shorter, with the rebel -cavalry slashing around everywhere at our cracker-line. We only saved -two bridges to-night by the greatest luck. You'll have to go back to -Nashville by the next train." - -"O, Mister Lootenant," pleaded the Deacon, with drops of sweat on his -brow. "Please let me go on. My only son lays there in Chattanooga, a- -dyin' for all I know. He's bin a good soldier. Ask anybody that knows -the 200th Injianny, and they'll tell you that there ain't no better -soldier in the regiment than Corporal Si Klegg. You've a father -yourself. Think how he'd feel if you was layin' in a hospital at the -pint o' death, and him not able to git to you. You'll let me go on, I -know you will. It aint in you to re fuse." - -"I feel awful sorry for you sir," said the Lieutenant, much moved. "And -if I had it in my power you should go. But I have got my orders, and I -must obey them. I musn't allow anybody not actually be longing to the -army to pass on across the river on the train." - -"I'll walk every step o' the way, if you'll let me go on," said the -Deacon. - -"I tell you what you might do," said the Lieutenant suggestively. "It -isn't a great ways over the mountains to Chattanooga. There's a herd of -cattle starting over there. The Lieutenant in charge is a friend of -mine. I'll speak to him to let you go along as a helper. It'll be -something of a walk for you, but it's the best I can do. You'll get in -there some time to-morrow." - -"P'int out your friend to me, and let me go as quick as I kin." - -"All right," said the Lieutenant in charge of the herd, when the -circumstances were explained to him. "Free passes over my road to -Chattanooga are barred. Everybody has to work his way. But I'll see that -you get there, if Joe Wheeler's cavalry don't interfere. We are going -over in the dark to avoid them. You can put your carpet-bag in that -wagon there. Report to the Herd-Boss there." - -"You look like a man of sense," said the Herd-Boss, looking him over, -and handing him a hickory gad. "And I believe you're all right. I'm -goin' to put you at the head, just behind the guide. Keep your eye -peeled for rebel cavalry and bushwhackers, and stop and whistle for me -if you see anything suspicious." - -It was slow, toilsome work urging the lumbering cattle along over the -steep, tortuous mountain paths. Naturally, the nimblest, friskiest -steers got in the front, and they were a sore trial to the Deacon, to -restrain them to the line of march, and keep them from straying off and -getting lost. Of course, a Deacon in the Baptist Church could not swear -under any provocation, but the way he remarked on the conduct of some of -the "critters" as "dumbed," "confounded," and "tormented," had almost as -vicious a ring as the profuse profanity of his fellow-herders. - -Late in the afternoon the tired-out herd was halted in a creek bottom -near Chattanooga. The patient animals lay down, and the weary, footsore -Deacon, his clothes covered with burs, his hands and face seamed with -bloody scratches, leaned on his frayed gad and looked around over the -wilderness of tents, cabins, trains and interminable lines of -breastworks and forts. - -"Mr. Klegg," said the Herd-Boss, coming toward him, "you've done your -duty, and you've done it well. I don't know how I could've ever got this -lot through but for your help. Here's your carpet-sack, and here's a -haversack o' rations I've put up for you. Take mighty good care of it, -for you'll need every cracker. That lot o' tents you see over there, -with a yaller flag flyin' over 'em, is a general hospital. Mebbe you'll -find your son in there." - -The Deacon walked straight to the nearest tent, lifted the flap and -inquired: - -"Does anybody here know where there is a boy named Si Klegg, of Co. Q, -200th Injianny Volunteers?" - -'pap, is That You?' Said a Weak Voice. 238 - -"Pap, is that you?" said a weak voice in the far corner. - -"Great, jumpin' Jehosephat, the Deacon!" ejaculated a tall skeleton of a -man, who was holding a cup of coffee to Si's lips. - -"Great Goodness, Shorty," said the Deacon, "is that you?" - -"What's left o' me," answered Shorty. - - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. TEDIOUS CONVALESCENCE THE DEACON COMMITS A CRIME AGAINST -HIS CONSCIENCE. - -"YOU are the father of that boy in the far end of the tent," said the -Surgeon coming up to the Deacon, who had stepped outside of the tent to -get an opportunity to think clearly. "I'm very glad you have come, for -his life hangs by a thread. That thread is his pluck, aided by a superb -constitution. Most men would have died on the field from such a wound. -Medicine can do but little for him; careful nursing much more; but his -own will and your presence and encouragement will do far more than -either." - -"How about Shorty?" inquired the Deacon. - -"Shorty's all right if he don't get a setback. The danger from the blow -on his head is pretty near past, if something don't come in to make -further complications. He has been pulled down pretty badly by the low -fever which has been epidemic here since we have settled down in camp, -but he seems to be coming out from it all right." - -"I've come down here to do all that's possible for these two boys. Now, -how kin I best do it?" asked the Deacon. - -"You can do good by helping nurse them. You could do much more good if -there was more to do with, but we lack almost everything for the proper -care of the wounded and sick. We have 15,000 men in hospital here, and -not supplies enough for 3,000. When we will get more depends on just -what luck our cavalry has in keeping the rebels off our line of -supplies." - -"Show me what to do, give me what you kin, and I'll trust in the Lord -and my own efforts for the rest." - -"Yes, and you kin count on me to assist," chimed in Shorty, who had come -up. "I won't let you play lone hand long, Deacon, for I'm gittin' -chirpier every day. If I could only fill up good and full once more on -hardtack and pork, or some sich luxuries, I'd be as good as new agin." - -"You mean you'd be put to bed under three feet of red clay, if you were -allowed to eat all you want to," said the Surgeon. "There's where the -wind is tempered to the shorn lamb. If you could eat as much as you want -to eat, I should speedily have to bid good-by to you. For the present, -Mr. Klegg, do anything that suggests itself to you to make these men -comfortable. I need scarcely caution you to be careful about their food, -for there is nothing that you can get hold of to over-feed them. But -you'd better not let them have anything to eat until I come around again -and talk to you more fully. I put them in your charge." - -The Deacon's first thought was for Si, and he bestirred himself to do -what he thought his wife, who was renowned as a nurse, would do were she -there. - -He warmed some water, and tenderly as he could command his strong, -stubby hands, washed Si's face, hands and feet, and combed his hair. The -overworked hospital attendants had had no time for this much-needed -ministration. It was all that they could do to get the wounded under -some sort of shelter, to dress their wounds, and prepare food. No well -man could be spared from the trenches for hospital service, for the -sadly-diminished Army of the Cumberland needed every man who could carry -a musket to man the long lines to repel the constantly-threatened -assaults. - -The removal of the soil and grime of the march and battle had a -remarkably vivifying effect upon Si. New life seemed to pulse through -his veins and brightness return to his eyes. - -"Makes me feel like a new man, Pap," he said faintly. "Feels better than -anything I ever knowed. Do the same to Shorty, Pap." - -"Come here, Shorty, you dirty little rascal," said the Deacon, assuming -a severely maternal tone, at which Si laughed feebly but cheerily, "and -let me wash your face and comb your hair." - -Shorty demurred a little at being treated like a boy, and protested that -he could wash himself, if the Deacon would get him some warm water; but -he saw that the conceit amused Si, and submitted to having the Deacon -give him a scrubbing with a soapy rag, giving a yell from time to time, -in imitation of an urchin undergoing an unwilling ablution. Si turned -his head so as to witness the operation, and grinned throughout it. - -"I think you'd both feel still better if you could have your hair cut," -said the Deacon, as he finished and looked from one to the other. "Your -hair's too long for sick people, and it makes you look sicker'n you -really are. But I hain't got no shears." - -"I know I'd feel better if I was sheared," said Shorty. "Hain't neither -of us had our hair cut since we started on the Tullyhomy campaign, and I -think I look like the Wild Man from Borneo. I think I know a feller that -has a pair o' shears that I kin borry." - -The shears were found and borrowed. Then ensued a discussion as to the -style of the cut. The boys wanted their hair taken off close to their -heads, 'but the Deacon demurred to this for fear they would catch cold. - -"No, Si," he said; "I'm goin' to cut your hair jest like your mother -used to. She used to tie one of her garters from your forehead down -across your ears, and cut off all the hair that stuck out. I hain't any -garter, but I guess I kin find a string that'll do jest as well." - -"There," said the Deacon, as he finished shearing off the superabundant -hair, and surveyed the work. "That ain't as purty a job as if your -mother'd done it, but you'll feel lighter and cleaner, and be healthier. -If hair was only worth as much as wool is now, I'd have enough to pay me -for the job. But I must clean it up keerfully and burn it, that the -birds mayn't git hold of it and give you the headache." - -The Deacon had his little superstitions, like a great many other hard- -headed, sensible men. - -"Well, Mr. Klegg," said the Surgeon, when he made his next round, "I -must congratulate you on your patients. Both show a remarkable -improvement. You ought to apply for a diploma, and go into the practice -of medicine. You have done more for them in the two or three hours than -I have been able to do in as many weeks. If you could only keep up this -pace awhile I would be able to return them to duty very soon. I have an -idea. Do you see that corn-crib over there?" - -"The one built of poles? Yes." - -"Well, I have some things stored there, and I have been able to hold it -so far against the soldiers, who are snatching every stick of wood they -can find, for their cabins, or for the breastworks, or firewood. I don't -know how long I'll be able to keep it, unless I have personal -possession. I believe you can make it into a comfortable place for these -two men. That will help them, you can be by yourselves, you can take -care of my things, and it will relieve the crowd in the tent." - -"Splendid idea," warmly assented the Deacon. "I'll chink and daub it, -and make it entirely comfortable, and fix up bunks in it for the boys. I -know they'll be delighted at the change. I wonder where Shorty is?" - -The Deacon had just remembered that he had not seen that individual for -some little time, and looked around for him with some concern. It was -well that he did. Shorty had come across the haversack that the Deacon -had brought, and it awakened all his old predatory instincts, sharpened, -if anything, by his feebleness. Without saying a word to any body, he -had employed the time while the Surgeon and Deacon were in conversation -in preparing one of his customary gorges after a long, hard march. - -He had broken up the crackers into a tin-cup of water which sat by his -side, while he was frying out pieces of fat pork in a half-canteen. - -"My goodness, man!" shouted the Deacon, spring ing toward him. "Are you -crazy? If you eat that mess you'll be dead before morning." - -He sprang toward him, snatched the half-canteen from his hand, and threw -its contents on the ground. - -"That stuff's not fit to put into an ostrich's stomach," he said. "Mr. -Klegg, you will have to watch this man very carefully." - -"Can't I have none of it to eat?" said Shorty, dejectedly, with tears of -weakness and longing in his eyes. - -"Not a mouthful of that stuff," said the Surgeon; "but you may eat some -of those crackers you have soaked there. Mr. Klegg, let him eat about -half of those crackers no more." - -Shorty looked as if the whole world had lost its charms. "Hardtack -without grease's no more taste than chips," he murmured. - -"Never mind, Shorty," said the Deacon, pityingly; "I'll manage to find -you something that'll be better for you than that stuff." - -The Surgeon had the boys carried over to the corncrib, and the Deacon -went to work to make it as snug as possible. All the old training of his -pioneer days when literally with his own hands, and with the rudest -materials, he had built a comfortable cabin in the wilderness of the -Wabash bottoms for his young wife came back to him. He could not see a -brick, a piece of board, a stick, or a bit of iron anywhere without the -thought that it might be made useful, and carrying it off. As there were -about 40,000 other men around the little village of Chattanooga with -similar inclinations, the Deacon had need of all his shrewdness in -securing coveted materials, but it was rare that anybody got ahead of -him. He rearranged and patched the clapboards on the roof until it was -perfectly rain-tight, chinked up the spaces between the poles with -stones, corncobs and pieces of wood, and plastered over the outside with -clay, until the walls were draft proof. He hung up an old blanket for a -door, and hired a teamster to bring in a load of silky-fine beech leaves -which, when freshly fallen, make a bed that cannot be surpassed. These, -by spreading blankets over them, made very comfort able couches for Si, -Shorty and himself. - -Then the great problem became one of proper food for the boys. Daily the -rations were growing shorter in Chattanooga, and if they had been -plentiful they were not suited to the delicate stomachs of those -seriously ill. Si was slowly improving, but the Deacon felt that the -thing necessary to carry him over the breakers and land him safely on -the shores of recovery was nourishing food that he could relish. - -He had anxiously sought the entire length of the camp for something of -that kind. He had visited all the sutlers, and canvassed the scanty -stocks in the few stores in Chattanooga. He had bought the sole -remaining can of tomatoes at a price which would have almost bought the -field in which the tomatoes were raised, and he had turned over the -remnant lots of herring, cheese, etc., he found at the sutler's, with -despair at imagining any sort of way in which they could be worked up to -become appetizing and assimilative to Si's stomach. - -"What you and Si needs," he would say to Shorty, "is chicken and fresh -'taters. If you could have a good mess of chicken and 'taters every day -you'd come up like Spring shoats. I declare I'd give that crick bottom -medder o' mine, which hasn't it's beat on the Wabash, to have mother's -coopful o' chickens here this minute." - -But a chicken was no more to be had in Chattanooga than a Delmonico -banquet. The table of the Major-General commanding the Army of the -Cumberland might have a little more hardtack and pork on it than -appeared in the tents of the privates, and be cooked a little better, -but it had nothing but hardtack and pork. - -The Deacon made excursions into the country, and even ran great risks -from the rebel pickets and bushwhackers, in search of chickens. But the -country had been stripped, by one side or the other, of everything -eatable, and the people that remained in their cheerless homes were -dependent upon what they could get from the United States Commissary. - -One day he found the Herd-Boss in camp, and poured forth his troubles to -him. The Herd-Boss sympathized deeply with him, and cudgeled his brains -for a way to help. - -"I'll tell you what you might do," he said at length, "if you care to -take the risk. We're goin' back with some teams to Bridgeport to-morrow -mornin'. You might git in one of the wagons and ride back 10 or 15 miles -to a little valley that I remember that's there, and which I think looks -like it hain't bin foraged. I was thinkin' as we come through the other -day that I might git something goo'd to eat up there, and I'd try it -some day. No body seems to 've noticed it yit. But it may be chock full -o' rebels, for all I know, and a feller git jumped the moment he sets -foot in it." - -"I'll take my chances," said the Deacon. "I'll go along with you to- -morrer mornin'." - -The Deacon found that a ride in a wagon was not such an unqualified -favor as he might have thought. The poor, half-fed, overworked mules -went so slowly that the Deacon could make better time walking, and he -was too merciful to allow them to pull him up hill. - -The result was that, with helping pry the stalled wagons out and work in -making the roads more passable, the Deacon expended more labor than if -he had started out to walk in the first place. - -It was late in the afternoon when the Herd-Boss said: - -"There, you take that path to the right, and in a little ways you'll -come out by a purty good house. I hain't seen any Johnnies around in -this neighborhood since I've bin travelin' this route, but you'd better -keep your eye peeled, all the same. If you see any, skip back to the -road here, and wait awhile. Somebody 'll be passin' before long." - -Thanking him, the Deacon set out for the house, hoping to be able to -reach it, get some fowls, and be back to Chattanooga before morning. If -he got the chickens, he felt sanguine that he could save Si's life. - -He soon came in sight of the house, the only one, apparently, for miles, -and scanned it carefully. There were no men to be seen, though the house -appeared to be inhabited. He took another look at the heavy revolver -which he had borrowed from the Surgeon, and carried ready for use in the -pocket of Si's overcoat, and began a strategic advance, keep ing well -out of sight under the cover of the sumachs lining the fences. - -Still he saw no one, and finally he became so bold as to leave his -covert and walk straight to the front door. A dozen dogs charged at him -with a wild hullabaloo, but he had anticipated this, and picked up a -stout hickory switch in the road, which he wielded with his left hand -with so much effect that they ran howling back under the house. He kept -his right hand firmly grasping his revolver. - -An old man and his wife appeared at the door; both of them shoved back -their spectacles until they rested on the tops of their heads, and -scanned him searchingly. The old woman had a law-book in her hand, and -the old man a quill pen. She had evidently been reading to him, and he -copying. - -The old man called out to him imperiously: - -"Heah, stranger, who air yo'? An' what d'yo' want?" - -The tone was so harsh and repellant that the Deacon thought that he -would disarm hostility by announcing himself a plain citizen, like -themselves. So he replied: - -"I'm a farmer, and a citizen from Injianny, and I want to buy some -chickens for my son, who's sick in the hospital at Chattanoogy." - -"Injianny!" sneered the old man. "Meanest people in the world live in -Injianny. Settled by scalawags that we'uns run outen Tennessee bekase -they'uns wuz too onery to live heah." - -"Citizen!" echoed the woman. "They'uns heap sight wuss'n the soldjers. -Teamsters, gamblers, camp-followers, thieves, that'll steal the coppers -off en a dead man's eyes. I had a sister that married a man that beat -her, and then run off to Injianny, leavin' her with six children to -support. All the mean men go to Injianny. Cl'ar out. We don't want -nobody 'round heah, and specially no Injiannians. They'uns is a pizun -lot." - -"Yes, cl'ar out immejitly," commanded the old man. "I'm a Jestice of the -Peace, and ef you don't go to wunst I'll find a way to make yo'. We've a -law agin able-bodied vagrants. Cl'ar out, now." - -"Come, have a little sense," said the Deacon, not a little roiled at the -abuse of his State. "I'm just as respectable a man as you dare be. I -never stole anything. I've bin all my life a regler member o' the -Baptist Church strict, close-communion, total-immersion Baptists. All I -want o' you is to buy some o' them chickens there, and I'll give you a -fair price for 'em. No use o' your flaring up over a little matter o' -bizniss." - -"I don't believe a word of hit," said the woman, who yet showed that she -was touched by the allusion to the Baptist Church, as the Deacon had -calculated, for most of the people of that section professed to be of -that denomination. "What'll yo' gi' me for them chickens?" - -The bargaining instinct arose in the Deacon's mind, but he repressed it. -He had no time to waste. He would make an offer that at home would be -considered wildly extravagant, close the business at once and get back -to Chattanooga. He said: "I'll give you a dollar apiece for five." - -'he Took Another Look at his Heavy Revolver.' 254 - -"Humph," said the woman contemptuously. "I don't sell them for no dollar -apiece. They'uns 's all we got to live on now. If I sell 'em I must git -somethin' that'll go jest as fur. You kin have 'em at $5 apiece." - -"Betsy," remonstrated the old man, "I'm afeard this 's wrong, and as a -Magistrate I shouldn't allow hit. Hit's traffickin' with the inemy." - -"No, hit hain't," she asserted. "He's not a soljer. He's a citizen, and -don't belong to the army. Besides, he's a Baptist, and hit hain't so bad -as ef he wuz a Presbyterian, or a shoutin' Methodist. Most of all, I'm -nearly dead for some coffee, and I know whar I kin git a pound o' rayle -coffee for $10." - -The Deacon had been pondering. To his thrifty mind it seemed like a -waste to give a crisp, new $5 bill for such an insignificant thing as a -chicken. Like Indiana farmers of his period, he regarded such things as -chickens, eggs, butter, etc., as "too trifling for full-grown men to -bother about. They were wholly women-folks' truck." He fingered the -bills in his bosom, and thought how many bushels of wheat and pounds of -pork they represented. Then he thought of Si in the hospital, and how a -little chicken broth would build him up. Out came five new $5 bills. - -"Here's your money," he said, thumbing over the bills clumsily and -regretfully. - -The old woman lowered her spectacles from the top of her head, and -scrutinized them. - -"What's them?" she asked suspiciously. - -"Why, them's greenbacks Government money the very best kind," explained -the Deacon. "You can't have no better'n that." - -"Don't tech hit! Don't have nothin' to do with it!" shouted the old man. -"Hit's high treason to take Federal money. Law's awful severe about -that. Not less'n one year, nor more'n 20 in the penitentiary, for a -citizen, and death for a soljer, to be ketched dealin' in the inemy's -money. I kin turn yo' right to the law. Ole man, take yo' money and -cl'ar off the place immejitly. Go out and gather up yo' chickens, Betsy, -and fasten 'em in the coop. Go away, sah, 'or I shell blow the horn for -help." - -"I wuz talkin' 'bout Confederit money," said the woman, half -apologetically. "I wouldn't tech that 'ere stuff with a soap-stick. Yo'd -better git away as quick as yo' kin ef yo' know what's good for yo'." - -She went into the yard to gather up her flock, and the Deacon walked -back into the road. When out of sight he sat down on a rock to meditate. -There was not another house in sight anywhere, and it was rapidly -growing dark. If he went to an other house he would probably have the -same experience. He had set his heart on having those chickens, and he -was a pretty stubborn man. Somehow, in spite of himself, he parted the -bushes and looked through to see where the woman was housing her fowls, -and noted that it was going to be very dark. Then he blushed vividly, -all to himself, over the thoughts which arose. - -"To think of me, a Deacon in the Baptist Church, akchelly meditatin' -about goin' to another man's coop at night and stealin' his chickens? -Could Maria ever be made to believe such a thing? I can't be lieve it -myself." - -Then he made himself think of all the other ways in which he might get -chickens. They all seemed impossible. He turned again to those in the -coop. - -"Nothin' but measly dunhills, after all dear at a fip-and-a-bit, and yet -I offered her a dollar apiece for 'em. If she'd bin a real Christian -woman she'd bin glad to 've given me the chickens for as sick as man as -Si is. Gracious, mother'd give every chicken on the place, if it'd help -a sick person, and be glad o' the chance. They're both tough old rebels, -anyhow, and their property oughtter be confiscated." - -He stopped and considered the morals of the affair a little further, and -somehow the idea of taking the fowls by stealth did not seem so -abhorrent as at first. Then, everything was overslaughed by the thought -of going into camp with the precious birds, of cleaning one and -carefully stewing it, making a delicate, fragrant broth, the very smell -of which would revive Si, and every spoonful bring nourishment and -strength. - -"Mebbe the army's demoralizin' me," he said to himself; "but I believe -it's a work o' necessity and mercy, that don't stand on nice -considerations. I'm goin' to have five o' them chickens, or know the -reason why." - -As has been before remarked, when Deacon Klegg made up his mind -something had to happen. It was now quite dark. He took one of the $5 -bills out of his breast pocket and put it in a pocket where it would be -handy. He looked over at the house, and saw the old man and woman -sitting by the fire smoking. He picked up the hickory withe to keep off -the dogs, and made a circuit to reach the chicken-coop from the rear of -the house. The dogs were quarreling and snarling over their supper, and -paid no attention to him, until he had reached the coop, when they came -at him full tilt. - -The Deacon dealt the foremost ones such vicious blows that the beasts -fell as if they had been cut in two, and ran howling under the house. -With a quickness and skill that would have done credit to any veteran in -the army, he snatched five chickens from their roosts, wrung their -necks, and gathered them in his left hand. Alarmed by the noise of the -barking and yelping, the old couple flung open the door and rushed out -on the porch with shouts. The open door threw a long lane of bright -light directly on the Deacon. - -"Blow the horn, granddad blow the horn," screamed the woman. Her husband -snatched the tin horn down from the wall, and put all his anger into a -ringing blast. It was immediately answered by a shot from a distant -hill. Still holding his game in his left hand, the Deacon pulled the $5 -bill out of his pocket with his right, walked up to the porch, laid it -at the woman's feet and put a stone on it. - -"There's full pay for your dumbed old dunghills, you cantankerous -rebel," said he, as he disappeared into the darkness. "Go into the house -and pray that the Lord may soften your heart, which is harder than -Pharaoh's, until you have some Christian grace." - -When he reached the road he could hear the sound of hoofs galloping -toward the house. He smiled grimly, but kept under the shadow of the -trees until he reached the main road leading to Chattanooga, where he -was lucky enough to find a train making its slow progress toward the -town, and kept with it until he was within our lines. - - - - - -CHAPTER XX. STEWED CHICKEN THE DEACON'S CULINARY OPERATIONS BRING HIM -LOTS OF TROUBLE. - -THE Deacon reached the corn-crib again be fore daylight, and found Si -and Shorty fast asleep. This relieved him much, for he had been -disturbed with apprehensions of what might happen them while he was -gone. Though he was more tired, it seemed to him, than he had ever been -before in all his life, yet he nerved himself up to clean and cook one -of the chickens, so as to give Si a delightful surprise when he awoke. - -The Deacon had grown so wise in the army ways that his first problem was -how to hide the remaining four fowls until he should need them. - -"I'd simply be mobbed," he communed with him self, "if daylight should -come, and show me with four chickens in my possession. The whole Army o' -the Cumberland 'd jump me as one man, and I'd be lucky if I got away -with my life. Mebbe even the General himself 'd send a regiment down to -take the things away from me. But what kin I do with 'em? If I hang 'em -up inside the corn-crib they'll spile. The weather is cold enough to -keep 'em outside, but I'd need a burglar-proof safe to hold on to 'em. -It's just awful that morals are so bad in the army, and that men will -take things that don't belong to 'em." - -He stopped short, for there arose the disturbing thought as to just how -he himself had come into possession of the birds, and he murmured: - -"'Tain't in me to blame 'em. What is 't the Bible says about 'Let him -who is without sin cast the first stone?' Certainly I'm not the man to -be heavin' dornicks just now." - -Mindful of past experiences, he took the fowls in one hand, when he went -down to the branch with a camp-kettle to get water. He washed his face -and hands in the cold water, which revived him, and returning, built a -fire and hung the kettle over it, while he carefully picked and cleaned -one of the chickens for cooking. Then he plucked and cleaned the others, -and burned the feathers and entrails in the fire. - -"Chicken feathers 's mighty tell-tale things," he said to himself. "I -once knowed a man that was finally landed in the penitentiary because he -didn't look out for chicken feathers. He'd bin stealin' hosses, and was -hidin' with them in the big swamp, where nobody would 've suspicioned he -was, if he hadn't stole chickens from the neighborhood to live on, and -left their feathers layin' around careless like, and some boys, who -thought the foxes was killin' the chickens, followed up the trail and -run onto him." - -Then a bright idea occurred to him. He had a piece of board, which he -laid on the stones that formed the foundation of one end of the crib, -immediately under the flooring, and on this shelf he laid the other -chickens. - -"I remember that Wash Jenkins that we arrested for counterfeitin' had -hid his pile o' pewter dollars in the underpinnin' of his cabin, and -we'd never found any stuff to convict him, except by the merest -accident. We hunted all through his cabin, below and in the loft, pulled -the clapboards off, and dug up every likely place in the yard, and just -about as we wuz givin' the whole thing up, somebody pulled a board out -o' the underpinnin' to lay in the bed o' his wagon, and the bogus -dollars run out. Wash made shoes for the State down at Jeffersonville -for some years on account of that man wantin' a piece o' board for his -wagon-bed." - -But the astute Deacon had overlooked one thing in his calculations. The -crisp morning air was filled with the pungent smell of burning feathers -and flesh, and the fragrance of stewing chicken. It reached hungry men -in every direction, made their mouths water and their minds wonder where -it could come from. - -First came a famished dog, sniffing and nosing around. His appearance -filled the Deacon with alarm. Here was danger to his hidden stock that -he had not thought of. He took his resolution at once. Decoying the cur -near him he fastened a sinewy hand upon his neck, cut his throat with -his jack-knife, and dragged the carcass some distance away from the -corn-crib. - -"I'll git a mattock and shovel and bury it after awhile," he murmured to -himself, as he returned and washed his hands. "He's settled for good, -any way. He won't be snoopin' around steal in' my chickens. I hope there -hain't no more measly hounds around. Should've thought they wuz all -starved out long ago. My! but that chicken does smell so nice. How Si -and Shorty will enjoy it. It'll build 'em right up. I'd like awfully to -take some of it myself, but they'll need every drop, poor fellows." - -He got a spoon, and tested some of the broth appreciatively. - -"Mother'd done much better, at home in her own kitchen, or anywhere you -could've put her, than me with my clumsy ways," he continued, "but she -never cooked anything that'll taste better to them boys." - -A negro cook appeared, with a tin cup in his hand. - -"Afo' de Lawd, Boss, is hit you dat's cookin' dat chicking? I done -smelled hit more'n a miled away, and hab been huntin' foh hit all ober -camp. Say, Boss, foh de Lawd's sake, jist gib me a little teenty, weenty -sup in dis heah tin cup for my boss. He's an ossifer, an' is layin' in -de ossifer's horsepitol ober dar. Hit'll do him a powerful sight ob -good." - -"Awful Sorry, my friend," said the Deacon, hardening his heart, "but I -haven't a bit to spare. Hain't got as much as I need for my own son and -his partner. I couldn't spare a mouthful for the General o' the army -even. Let your Colonel or Major sendout men to git chickens for -himself." - -"My boss'll be powehful disappunted," said the negro, with his big, -white eyes full of tears. "He's powehful weak, foh sartin. A leetle sup -ob broth'd do him an everlastin' world ob good. He ain't no Kunnel or -Majah. He's only a Cappen Cappen McGillicuddy, ob the 200th Injianny." - -"Capt. McGillicuddy, o' the 200th Injianny," said the Deacon, much -moved. "You Bay you're Capt. McGillicuddy's man?" - -"Yes, boss." - -"And he's layin' very low over in a tent there?" - -"Yes, boss. Got shot in de thigh in de battle, an' den had de feber. -He's de very best man in de world, and I'd do ennyt'ing to help him. -He's jest starvin' to def. I can't git nuffin' dat'll lay on his -stummick, and stick to his ribs. I've done ransacked de hull camp and de -country clean up to Jineral Bragg's Headquartehs. De tings dat I -couldn't git wuz eider chained down, or had a man wid a gun ober dem. -Foh Gawd's sake, boss, jist gib me a half a cupful for him." - -"There's no man in the world I'd rather help than Capt. McGillicuddy," -said the Deacon. "He's bin a mighty good friend to my son. I know that -Si and Shorty'd divide their last crumb with him. Look here, Sambo, if I -give you a cupful o' this broth and a piece o' the meat, will you git -down on your knees and swear you'll take every bit straight to him, and -not take even a smidjin of it for your self?" - -"De Lawd be praised and magnified foreber, but I will," said the negro, -dropping on his knees and holding up his hand. "Swar me on a pile o' -Bibles big as a haystack. I'd radder go to hell on my knees backward dan -tech de fust drap ob dat. I's too anxious to hab Cappen McGillicuddy git -well, so I is. What'd become ob dis pore niggeh if he should die? No, -indeedy. Hope I'll drap dead in my tracks if I taste de least wee -morssel." - -"I'm goin' to trust you," said the Deacon, stirring up the savory mess, -ladling out a generous cupful, adding a drumstick, and covering the cup -with a piece of paper. "Now, carry it carefully. Every drop's worth its -weight in gold." - -The Deacon looked a little regretful at the shrinking of the contents of -the kettle, made by taking out the cupful, and said: - -"Mebbe I oughtn't 've done it. The boys need every spoonful. But if it'd -bin themselves, I know they'd have given their Captain more'n I did. He -is twice blessed that giveth, and probably they'll git more somehow on -account o' what I've given away. But I mustn't give any more." - -"Say, Mister," said a very feeble voice at his elbow, "can't you give me -a cupful o' that? It smells so good. It smells like home. I smelled it -away over there in the tent, and it seemed to me that if I could get -some of it I'd certainly get well, though they all say they think -there's no hope for me. I crawled out of the tent and come while the -nurse was asleep and wasn't watching. They won't let me get upon my feet -when they're watching me, but I fooled them this time." - -As he spoke, he sank down from sheer exhaustion, but still held out his -cup imploringly, while an in tense longing filled his great, blue eyes. - -The Deacon looked pityingly at him. His wan face was fair and delicate -as a girl's, and even be fore disease had wasted him he had been very -tall and slender. Now his uniform flapped around his shrunken body and -limbs. - -The Deacon could not stand the appeal of those great, plaintive eyes and -that wasted form. - -"The Lord blesses the giver," he said, taking the cup from the thin -hand, and proceeding to fill it from the kettle. "It may be that my own -son will have the more from what I give this poor sick boy. It may be -bread cast upon the waters. At any rate, I'm goin' to take the chances. -There's still enough left for one meal for Si and Shorty, and I've four -chickens left. After that the Lord'll provide. I'll do this in His name, -and I'll trust Him. There, my boy, let the cup set on the ground till it -cools, and then drink it, and here's a piece o' bread to go with it." - -The boy could scarcely wait for the cooling, and his swimming eyes -expressed a gratitude that no words could convey. - -"Here, pardner, I'll take a cupful o' that 'ere, too," said a frazzled -and frowsy teamster, shambling up through the half-light of the dawn. "I -smelled it, and follered my nose till it brung me here. My, but it -smells good! Jest fill my cup, and I'll do as much for you some time -when you're hungry." - -"Go away, Groundhog," said the Deacon, recognizing him. "I've only got a -little here for Si and Shorty. I hain't a spoonful left for myself, and -none to give away. Go and get your own chickens, and bile 'em yourself." - -"Can't have any, eh?" said Groundhog, swagger ing up. "We'll see about -that, old man. I watched you givin' away to that nigger, and this little -dead-beat here, but you hain't none to give me, who is doin' hard work -for the army, and helpin' keep 'em from starvin'. If you've got enough -for that nigger and that whinin' boy you've got enough for me, and I'm -goin' to have it, for I need it." - -"You're not goin' to have a dumbed spoonful, Groundhog. Go away. I -hain't enough for Si and Shorty, I tell you. Go away." - -"And I tell you I need it more'n they do, for I'm workin' for the whole -army, while they're layin' around, makin' out they're sick. You give me -a cupful o' that and I'll go away and make no trouble. - -"If you don't I'll kick the whole kettle over. An old fool citizen like -you 's got no business in camp, any way, and no right to be havin' -things that ought to go to the laborin' men." - -And he raised his foot threateningly. - -The Deacon laid down the spoon with which he had been stirring the -broth, and doubling up his mighty fist, placed himself between Groundhog -and the kettle, and said: - -'if You Don't Skip out O' Here This Minute I'll Bust Your Head As I -Would a Punkin.' 264 - -"Groundhog, I'm an old man, and always have bin a man o' peace. I don't -believe in no kind o' fightin', nor molestin' no one. I belong to -church, and 've always tried to lead a Christian life. But if you don't -skip out o' here this minute, I'll bust your head as I would a punkin." - -Groundhog retreated a few steps, but still kept up a show of -determination. - -"What are you foolin' with the ole hayseed for?" said another teamster, -coming up behind Groundhog. "Slap the old hawbuck over, snatch up the -kittle and run with it. I'll do it if you don't." - -"Go for 'em, Deacon; I'm with you. We kin lick both of 'em," shouted -Shorty, who had been awakened by the noise of the dispute, and came -tottering out, trying to raise a stick of wood for a club. - -At that moment a rebel cannon roared on Lookout Mountain, just over -them, and the wicked screech of a shell cleft the air. Both of the team -sters dropped on the ground in a paralysis of fear. - -"The rebels 've got a new battery planted on the mountain," said Shorty, -turning to study the smoke that drifted away, in order to get its -location. - -"The shell struck right over there, and hain't bursted yet," said the -sick boy, looking up from sipping his broth, and pointing to a spot a -short distance away. "I can hear the hissing of the fuse." - -The teamsters sprang up like jacks-in-the-box, and ran with all the -power of their legs. By the time the explosion came they were hundreds -of yards away. - -A column of dirt and stones was thrown up, of which a little sprinkle -reached the fire. Thousands of voices yelled derisively at the rebel -gunner. - -"They're shootin' wuss and wuss every day," remarked Shorty, after -judicially considering the shot and making comparison with its -predecessors. "They'll git so after awhile that they can't hit the -Tennessee Valley." - -"Shorty," said the Deacon, "take this revolver and watch that kittle -while I wash Si's face, and git him ready for his breakfast. If you let -anybody git away with it you lose your breakfast. If I ever go into -restaurantin' for a bizniss, I'm goin' to find a quieter neighborhood -than Chattanoogy. I ain't exactly grumblin', so to speak, but there's -enough excitement before breakfast every mornin' to last me a full -year." - - - - - - - - - -SI KLEGG The Deacon's Adventures At Chattanooga In Caring For The Boys - - - -By John McElroy - - - -Book Five - - - -Published By - -The National Tribune Company, - -Washington, D. C. - -Second Edition - -Copyright 1912 - - - - - -THE SIX VOLUMES SI KLEGG, Book I, Transformation From a Raw Recruit SI -KLEGG, Book II, Through the Stone River Campaign SI KLEGG, Book III, -Meets Mr. Rosenbaum, the Spy SI KLEGG, Book IV, On The Great Tullahoma -Campaign SI KLEGG, Book V, Deacon's Adventures At Chattanooga SI KLEGG, -Book VI, Enter On The Atlanta Campaign - - - - - - - -frontispiece (98K) - - - -titlepage (28K) - - - - - - -CONTENTS - - -PREFACE - -SI KLEGG - -CHAPTER I. THE DEACON PROVIDES - -CHAPTER II. THE DEACON ATTEMPTED RESTITUTION - -CHAPTER III. A COW IN CAMP - -CHAPTER IV. THE DEACON'S PLAN - -CHAPTER V. TROUBLE ENCOUNTERED - -CHAPTER VI. THE BOYS IN THE OLD HOME ON BEAN BLOSSOM CREEK - -CHAPTER VII. WEEKS OF CONVALESCENCE - -CHAPTER VIII. SI IS PROMOTED - -CHAPTER IX. SHORTY IN TROUBLE - -CHAPTER X. SHORTY AS ORDERLY - -CHAPTER XI. SHORTY RUNS HEADQUARTERS - -CHAPTER XII. SHORTY ON A HUNT - -CHAPTER XIII. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING - -CHAPTER XIV. GUARDING THE KNIGHTS - -CHAPTER XV. OFF FOR THE FRONT - -CHAPTER XVI. THE TROUBLESOME BOYS - -CHAPTER XVII. THE FRIGHTENED SURGEON - -CHAPTER XVIII. NO PEACE FOR SI AND SHORTY - -CHAPTER XIX. THE FIRST SCRAPE - -CHAPTER XX. AFTER THE SKIRMISH - -CHAPTER XXI. CHATTANOOGA AT LAST - - - - - -ILLUSTRTIONS - - -Git Down from There! Commanded the Deacon 21 - -Well, I'll Be Dumbed, Muttered the Deacon. 35 - -Purty Good Milker, is She? Inquired the Deacon 51 - -The Deacon Reconnoitered the Situation 62 - -In Despair, the Deacon Turned to a Major. 77 - -"Arabella Curled Her Lip at Seeing Maria Take the Baby." 87 - -Shorty Went Outside Where There Was More Air. 101 - -"Sammy," Said Shorty, "I'm Goin' Away Right Off, and I Don't Want the -People to Know Nothin' of It." 113 - -Why, It's Shorty! Said the General, Recognizing Him At Once 129 - -"What Do You Think of That?" Said the Gambler. 141 - -Don't You Know Better Than to Come To Headquarters Like That? 156 - -How Do You Like the Looks of That, Old Butternut 169 - -The Prisoners Had Too Much Solicitude About Their Garments to Think of -Anything Else. 185 - -Have Come, Sir, in the Name of The People Of Indiana To Demand the -Release of Those Men. 199 - -I'll Send You a Catridge and Cap for Every Word You Write About Maria. -213 - -Here, You Young Brats, What Are You up to 225 - -Smallpox, Your Granny, Said si 237 - -There Was a Chorus of Yells, and then Another Volley. 247 - -Watching the Bridge Burners at Work 259 - -Wild Shooting of the Boys Saves The Surprised Colored Man. 273 - - - - - -PREFACE - -"Si Klegg, of the 200th Ind., and Shorty, his Partner," were born years -ago in the brain of John McElroy, Editor of The National Tribune. - -These sketches are the original ones published in The National Tribune, -revised and enlarged somewhat by the author. How true they are to nature -every veteran can abundantly testify from his own service. Really, only -the name of the regiment was invented. There is no doubt that there were -several men of the name of Josiah Klegg in the Union Army, and who did -valiant service for the Government. They had experiences akin to, if not -identical with, those narrated here, and substantially every man who -faithfully and bravely carried a musket in defense of the best -Government on earth had sometimes, if not often, experiences of which -those of Si Klegg are a strong reminder.' - -The Publishers. - - - - - -THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE RANK AND FILE OF THE GRANDEST -ARMY EVER MUSTERED FOR WAR. - - - -SI KLEGG - - - - - -CHAPTER I. THE DEACON PROVIDES RESORTS TO HIGHWAY ROBBERY AND HORSE -STEALING. - -THE Deacon was repaid seventyfold by Si's and Shorty's enjoyment of the -stew he had prepared for them, and the extraordinary good it had seemed -to do them as they lay wounded in the hospital at Chattanooga, to which -place the Deacon had gone as soon as he learned that Si was hurt in the -battle. - -"I won't go back on mother for a minute," said Si, with brightened eyes -and stronger voice, after he had drained the last precious drop of the -broth, and was sucking luxuriously on the bones; "she kin cook chickens -better'n any woman that ever lived. All the same, I never knowed how -good chicken could taste before." - -"Jehosephat, the way that does take the wrinkles out down here," said -Shorty, rubbing appreciatively the front of his pantaloons. "I feel as -smooth as if I'd bin starched and ironed, and there's new life clear -down to my toe-nails. If me and Si could only have a chicken a day for -the next 10 days we'd feel like goin' up there on the Ridge and bootin' -old Bragg off the hill. Wouldn't we, Si?" - -"Guess so," acceded Si cheerily, "if every one made us feel as much -better as this one has. How in the world did you git the chicken, Pap?" - -"Little boys should eat what's set before 'em, and ask no questions," -said the father, coloring. "It's bad manners to be pryin' around the -kitchen to find out where the vittles come from." - -"Well, I've got to take off my hat to you as a forager," said Shorty. "A -man that kin find a chicken in Chattenoogy now, and hold on to it long -enough to git it in the pot, kin give me lessons in the art. When I git -strong enough to travel agin I want you to learn me the trick." - -The Deacon did not reply to the raillery. He was pondering anxiously -about the preservation of his four remaining chickens. The good results -manifest from cooking the first only made him more solicitous about the -others. Several half-famished dogs had come prowling around, from no one -knew where. He dared not kill them in daylight. He knew that probably -some, if not all, of them had masters, and the worse and more dangerous -a dog is the more bitterly his owner resents any attack upon him. Then, -even hungrier looking men with keen eyes and alert noses wandered near, -with inquiry in every motion. He would have liked to take Shorty into -his confidence, but he feared that the ravenous appetite of -convalescence would prove too much for that gentleman's continence. - -He kept thinking about it while engaged in what he called "doin' up the -chores," that is, making Si and Shorty comfortable for the day, before -he lay down to take a much-needed rest. He had never been so puzzled in -all his life. He thought of burying them in the ground, but dismissed -that because he would be seen digging the hole and putting them in, and -if he should escape observation, the dogs would be pretty certain to -nose them out and dig them up. Sinking them in the creek suggested -itself, but had to be dismissed for various reasons, one being fear that -the ravenous catfish would devour them. - -"If I only had a balloon," he murmured to himself, "I might send 'em up -in that. That's the only safe way I kin think of. Yes, there's another -way. I've intended to put a stone foundation under that crib, and daub -it well, so's to stop the drafts. It orter be done, but it's a hard -day's work, even with help, and I'm mortal tired. But I s'pose it's the -only way, and I've got to put in stones so big that a dog can't pull 'em -out." - -He secured a couple of negroes, at prices which would have paid for -highly-skilled labor in Indiana, to roll up enough large stones to fill -in the space under the crib, and then he filled all the crevices with -smaller ones, and daubed over the whole with clay. - -"There," he said, as he washed the clay from his hands, "I think them -chickens are safe for to-night from the dogs, and probably from the men. -Think of all that trouble for four footy chickens not worth more'n four -bits in Injianny. They're as much bother as a drove o' steer'd be. I -think I kin now lay down and take a wink o' sleep." - -He was soon sleeping as soundly as only a thoroughly-tired man can, and -would have slept no one knows how long, had not Shorty succeeded in -waking him towards morning, after a shaking which exhausted the latter's -strength. - -"Wake up, Mister Klegg," said Shorty; "it must 've bin rainin' dogs, and -they're tryin' to tear the shanty down." - -The Deacon rubbed his eyes and hastened a moment to the clamor outside. -It seemed as if there were a thousand curs surrounding them, barking, -howling, snarling, fighting, and scratching. He snatched up a club and -sprang out, while Shorty tottered after. He ran into the midst of the -pack, and began laying about with his strong arms. He broke the backs of -some, brained others, and sent the others yelping with pain and fright, -except two particularly vicious ones, who were so frenzied with hunger -that they attacked him, and bit him pretty severely before he succeeded -in killing them. Then he went around to the end of the crib nearest his -precious hoard, and found that the hungry brutes had torn away his clay -and even the larger of the stones, and nothing but their fighting among -themselves had prevented the loss of his chickens. "What in tarnation -set the beasts onto us," inquired Shorty wonderingly. "They were wuss'n -cats around catnip, rats after aniseed, or cattle about a spot o' blood. -I've felt that me and Si wuz in shape to bring the crows and buzzards -around, but didn't expect to start the dogs up this way." - -"I've got four chickens hid under the underpinnin' there for you and -Si," confessed the Deacon. "The dogs seemed to 've smelled 'em out and -wuz after 'em." - -He went to the hiding place and pulled out the fowls one after another. -"They are all here," he said; "but how in the world am I goin' to keep -'em through another night?" - -"You ain't a-goin' to keep 'em through another night, are you?" asked -Shorty anxiously, as he gloated over the sight. "Le's eat 'em to-day." - -"And starve to-morrer?" said the thrifty Deacon rebukingly. "I don't -know where any more is comin' from. It was hard enough work gittin' -these. I had calculated on cookin' one a day for you and Si. That'd make -'em provide for four more days. After that only the Lord knows what -we'll do." - -"Inasmuch as we'll have to trust to the Lord at last, anyway," said -Shorty, with a return of his old spirit, "why not go the whole gamut? A -day or two more or less won't make no difference to Him. I feel as if I -could eat 'em all myself without Si's help." - -"I tell you what I'll do," said the Deacon, after a little -consideration. "I feel as if both Si and you kin stand a little more'n -you had yesterday. I'll cook two to-day. We'll send a big cupful over to -Capt. McGillicuddy. That'll leave us two for to-morrer. After that we'll -have to trust to Providence." - -"If ever there was a time when He could use His ravens to advantage," -said the irreverent Shorty, "it's about now. They carried bread and meat -to that old prophet. There's a lot o' mighty good men down here in this -valley now in terrible want of grub, and nothin' but birds kin git over -the roads to the rear very well." - -"Don't speak lightly o' the Lord and His ways, Shorty," said the Deacon -severely. - -"'Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace. -Behind a frowning Providence He hides a smilin' face,' - -as the hymn says. Here, take these chickens in one hand and this pistol -in the other, and guard 'em while I go down to the branch and wash and -git some water. Then I'll cook your breakfast." - -Again the savory smell of the boiling chickens attracted sick boys, who -begged for a little of the precious food. Having double the quantity, -the Deacon was a little more liberal, but he had to restrain Shorty, -who, despite his own great and gnawing hunger, would have given away the -bigger part of the broth to those who so desperately needed it. - -"No, Shorty," said the prudent Deacon. "Our first duty is to ourselves. -We kin help them by gittin' you and Si on your feet. We can't feed the -whole Army o' the Cumberland, though I'd like to." - -A generous cupful was set aside for Capt. McGillicuddy, which his -servant received with gratitude and glowing reports of the good the -former supply had done him. - -With the daylight came the usual shells from the rebel guns on Lookout -Mountain. Even the Deacon was getting used to this noisy salutation to -the morn, and he watched the shells strike harmlessly in the distance -with little tremor of his nerves. As the firing ceased, amid the -derisive yells of the army, he said quietly: - -Git Down from There! Commanded the Deacon 21 - -"That last shell's saved me a good deal o' work diggin'. It, tore out a -hole that'll just do to bury the carcasses of these dogs." - -Accordingly, he dragged the carcasses over after breakfast, and threw -the dirt back in the hole upon them. - -The two remaining chickens were stowed in a haversack, and during the -day hung outside from the ridge-pole of the crib, where they were -constantly under the eye of either the Deacon or Shorty, who took turns -watching them. That night the Deacon slept with them under his head, -though they were beginning to turn a little, and their increasing -gameness brought a still larger herd of dogs about. But the Deacon had -securely fastened the door, and he let them rage around as they pleased. - -When they were cooked and eaten the next morning the Deacon became -oppressed with anxious thought. Where were the next to come from? The -boys had improved so remarkably that he was doubly anxious to continue -the nourishing diet, which he felt was necessary to secure their speedy -recovery. Without it they would probably relapse. - -He could think of nothing but to go back again to the valley where he -got the chickens, and this seemed a most desperate chance, for the -moment that either of the old couple set eyes on him he or she would -give the alarm. He went to sleep thinking about the matter, and when he -rose up in the morning, and had nothing to offer his boys but the coarse -and uninviting hardtack, pork and coffee, he made up his mind to take -the chances, whatever they might be. He set out again immediately after -breakfast, and by cutting across the mountain came to the entrance to -the valley a little after noon. Keeping close under cover of the woods, -he approached within sight of the house, and carefully scanned it. What -to do he had scarcely planned. He was only determined to have some fresh -meat to take back to camp. He was going to get it as honestly and fairly -as he could, but fresh meat he must have. - -He could see no other house anywhere in the distance, and probably if he -went farther he would run into rebel bushwhackers and guerrillas, who -were watching from the high ridges. So long as he kept under cover of -the woods he would feel all right, for he was as skilled in woodcraft as -any of them, and could take care of himself. But if he should come out -into the open fields and road to cross the valley they would have him at -an advantage. He was confirmed in this fear by seeing several little -clouds of smoke rise up above the tops of the trees on the ridge. - -"There's a gang of rebels in camp over there," said he to himself, with -a woodman's quick reading of every sign. "That smoke's from their fires. -'Tain't enough of it to be clearin' ground; people ain't clearin' up at -this time o' year; that ground over there ain't the kind they'd clear up -for anything. 'Twouldn't raise white beans if it was cleared; and you -don't hear nobody choppin'." - -He looked again at the house. Everything was very quiet and peaceful -around it. There was no stock in the barnyard or fields, and the only -signs of life were the smoke rising from one of the great stone -chimneys, the chickens picking and scratching in the garden, a couple of -negresses, who occasionlly passed back and forth between the main house -and another cabin apparently used as a kitchen. - -The Deacon had almost made up his mind to march boldly down to the -house, snatch up a few of the chickens, and make his way back to the -woods again, before the old couple could summon assistance. Suddenly his -quick eyes caught a glimpse of something at a point where the road from -the ridge came down out of the woods. Then that something developed into -a man on horseback, who rode forward to a little rise, stopped, and -surveyed the landscape cautiously, and then rode forward toward the -house. - -He dismounted and entered the house. In a few minutes there appeared -unusual bustle and activity, during which the man rode back again, -munching as he went at a piece of cornpone and one of meat, which he had -gotten at the house, and held in either hand, while his reins lay on his -horse's neck. - -The old woman came out into the yard with some meat in her hand, and the -shrill note of her orders to the negresses reached the Deacon's ears, -though he could not make out the words. But he saw one of them go to the -spring and bring water, which she poured in a wash-kettle set up in the -yard, while the old woman prepared the beef and put it in, the other -negress started a fire, and the old man chopped and split wood to put -around the kettle and fill the stone oven near by. - -"They're cookin' vittels for them rebels on the ridge." The Deacon -correctly diagnosed the situation. "By-and-by they'll come for 'em, or -take 'em to 'em. Mebbe I kin find some way to collar some of 'em. It's a -slim chance, but no other seems to show up just now. If no more'n one -man comes for that grub I'm goin' to jump him." - -The Deacon looked at the caps on his revolver and began laying plans for -a strategic advance under the cover of the sumachs to a point where he -could command the road to the house. - -His cheek paled for an instant as the thought obtruded that the man -might resist and he have to really shoot him. - -"I don't want to shoot nobody," he communed with himself, "and it won't -'be necessary if the other fellow is only sensible and sees, that I've -got the drop on him, which I will have before I say a word. Anyway, I -want that grub for a work of necessity and mercy, which justifies many -things, and as a loyal man I ought to keep it from goin' to rebels. If -I've got to put a bullet into another feller, why, the Lord'll hold me -guiltless and blame the other feller. I ain't no Free Will Baptist. I -believe things 've bin foreordained. Wisht I knowed that it was -foreordained that I was to git that grub back to Si and Shorty." - -Presently he saw the old man come out and take a path into the woods. He -cautiously circled around to where he could follow and watch him. He saw -him make his way to a secluded little cove, where there was a corn-crib -partially filled and a rude shelter, under which were a buckboard and -fairly-good young horse. The old man began putting the clumsy harness of -ropes, chains and patched leather on the horse and hitching him to the -buckboard. - -"Good, the old man's goin' to take the grub out to 'em himself," thought -the Deacon with relief. "He'll be easy to manage. No need o' shootin' -him." - -He hurried back to his covert, and then shpped unseen down to where he -had selected for his ambush. The old man drove the buckboard around to -the front of the house, and the negresses, obeying the shrill orders of -the old woman, brought out pones of smoking cornbread, and buckets, tin -pans and crocks containing the meat, potatoes, turnips and other food, -and loaded them on to the buckboard. The fragrance of the food reached -the Deacon's nostrils, and made his mouth water and fond anticipations -rise as to the good it would do the boys. - -"I'll have that grub, and the boys shall have it," he determined, "or -there'll be an Injianny Deacon pretty badly used up." - -The old man mounted into the seat, gathered up the rope lines, and -chirruped to the horse to start. - -When he came opposite, the Deacon jumped out, seized the reins, and -pointing his revolver at him, commanded sternly: - -"Git down from there, and git down quick." - -The old man dropped the lines, and for an instant gazed at him with -scared eyes. - -"Why, yo' robber, what d'yo' mean?" he gasped. - -"Git down from there, and git down quick!" repeated the Deacon. - -"Why, this is highway robbery, threats, puttin' in bodily fear, -attempted murder, hoss-stealin'." - -"Hain't no time to argy law with you," said the Deacon impatiently. -"This ain't no court-room. You ain't in session now. Git down, and git -down quick!" - -"Help! help! murder! robbery! thieves!" shouted the old man, at the top -of his voice. - -The negresses, who had been watching their master depart, set to -screaming, and the old woman rushed back into the house and blew the -horn. The Deacon thrust his revolver back into the holster, caught the -old man with his sinewy hand, tore him from the seat, and flung him into -the fence-corner. He sprang into the seat, turned the horse's head -toward Chattanooga, and hit him a sharp cut with a switch that lay in -the wagon. - -"I've got about three miles the start," he said as he rattled off. "This -horse's young and fresh, while their's probably run down. The road from -here to the main road's tollably good, and I think I kin git there -before they kin overtake me." - -At the top of the hill he looked back, and saw the rebels coming out. -Apparently they had not understood what had happened. They had seen no -Yankees and could not have seen the Deacon's tussle with the old man. -They supposed that the holler simply meant for them to come in and get -their dinner, instead of having it taken out to them. All this passed -through the Deacon's mind, and he chuckled over the additional start it -would give him. - -"They won't find out nothin' till they git clean to the house," he said. -"By that time I'll be mighty nigh the main road. My, but wouldn't I like -to have as many dollars as they'll be mad when they find the Yankee -trick that's bin played on 'em, with their dinner hauled off into the -Union camp." - -He rattled ahead sharply for some time, looking back at each top of a -hill for his pursuers. They did not come in sight, but the main road to -Chattanooga did, and then a new trouble suggested itself. - -"I won't never dare haul this load uncovered through camp," he said to -himself. "The first gang o' roustabout teamsters that I meet'll take -every spoonful of the vittles, and I'd be lucky if I have the horse and -wagon left. I must hide it some way. How? That's a puzzler." - -At length a happy idea occurred to him. He stopped by a cedar thicket, -and with his jack-knife cut a big load of cedar boughs, which he piled -on until every bit of food was thoroughly concealed. This took much -time, and as he was finishing he heard a yell on the hill behind, and -saw a squad of rebels riding down toward him. He sprang to the seat, -whipped up his horse, and as he reached the main road was rejoiced to -see a squad of Union cavalry approaching. - -"Here, old man," said the Lieutenant in command; "who are you, and what -are you doing here?" - -"I'm a nurse in the hospital," answered the Deacon unhesitatingly. "I -was sent out here to get some cedar boughs to make beds in the hospital. -Say, there's some rebels out there, comin' down the hill. They saw me -and tuk after me. You'll find 'em right over the hill." - -"That's a pretty slick horse you're driving," said the Lieutenant. -"Looks entirely too slick to belong to Chattanooga. It's a much better -horse than mine. I've a notion—" - -"Say, them rebels are just over the hill, I tell you," said the Deacon -in a fever of apprehension of losing his steed. "They'll be on top of -you in a minute if you don't look out." - -"Right over the hill, did you say?" said the Lieutenant, forgetting for -the moment the horse. "Attention, there, boys. Look out for the rebels. -Advance carbines—Forward—trot! I'll come back directly and take another -look at that horse." - -The squad trotted up the hill in the direction the Deacon had pointed, -and as he drove off as fast as he could he heard the spatter of -exchanging shots. - -Late in the evening, as he drove off the pontoon into Chattanooga and -turned to the right toward his corn-crib he muttered over to himself: - -"They say that when a man starts down the path of sin and crime the road -seems greased for his swift progress. The other day I begun with petty -larceny and chicken stealin'. To-day it's bin highway robbery, -premeditated murder, horse stealin', grand larceny, and tellin' a -deliberate lie. What'll I be doin' this time next week? I must git that -old man's horse and buckboard back to him somehow, and pay him for his -vittles. But how'm I goin' to do it? The army's terribly demoralizin'. I -must git Si back home soon, or I won't be fit to associate with anybody -outside the penitentiary. How kin I ever go to the communion table -agin?" - - - - - -CHAPTER II. THE DEACON ATTEMPTED RESTITUTION TRIED TO RETURN THE HORSE -TO HIS OWNER. - -SI AND SHORTY were on the anxious lookout for the Deacon when he -arrived, and not a little worried lest something might have befallen -him. - -Si's weakness made him peevish and fretful, and Shorty was not a great -deal better. - -"It's an awful risk to have an old man and a civilian come down here -into camp," Si complained. "And he oughtn't to go about alone. He's -always been used to mingling with the quiet, honest, respectable people. -Up home the people are as honest as the day is long. They're religious -and peaceable, and Pap's never knowed no other kind. He wouldn't harm -nobody for the world, and none o' them'd harm him. He's only a child -among these toughs down here. I wisht one of us was able to be with him -all the time." - -"That father o' yours is certainly quite an innocent old party," Shorty -answered, consolingly, "and the things he don't know about army life'd -make more'n a pamphlet. But he has a way of wakin' up to the situation -that is sometimes very surprisin'. I wisht I was able to go about with -him, but I think he's fully able to take care o' himself around in camp. -There's always somebody about who won't see an old man and a citizen -imposed on. But what I'm afraid of is that he's wandered out in the -country, huntin' for somethin' for us to eat, and the guerrillas've got -him." - -And he and Si shuddered at the thought of that good old man in the hands -of the merciless scoundrels who infested the mountains and woods beyond -the camps. - -"Yes," mourned Si, "Pap's likely to mosey out into the country, jest -like he would on Bean Blossom Crick, and stop at the first house he come -to, and set down with 'em on the porch, and talk about the weather, and -the crops, and the measles in the neighborhood, and the revivals, and -the price o' pork and corn, and whether they'd better hold their wheat -till Spring, and who was comin' up for office, and all the time the -bushwhackers'd be sneakin' up on him, an' him know no more 'bout it than -where the blackbirds was roostin'. He's jest that innocent and -unsuspiciouslike." - -"If they've ketched him," said Shorty fiercely, "we'll find out about -it, and when we git able, we'll go out there and kill and burn -everything for five miles around. I'll do it, if I have to spend the -rest o' my life at hard labor on the Dry Tortugas." - -They heard the rattle of light wheels on the frozen ground outside, and -the hoof-beats of a quickly-moving horse. - -"Buggy or spring-wagon," muttered Si with a farmer boy's instinctive -interpretation of such sounds. "What's it doin' in camp? Strange horse. -In better condition than any around here." - -The vehicle stopped in front of the corn-crib at the Deacon's command, -"Whoa!" - -"Gracious—there's Pap now," ejaculated Si, with whom memory went in a -bound to the many times he had listened for his father's coming and -heard that order. - -"Hello, boys," called out the Deacon. "How are you? Shorty, come out -here." - -Shorty sprang up with something of his old-time alacrity, and Si made an -effort to rise, but was too weak. - -"Throw a piece o' that fat pine on the fire. Shorty," said the Deacon, -"and let's see what I've got." - -By the light of the blazing pine, the Deacon pulled off the cedar boughs -and developed his store. The boughs had kept in the heat, so that the -food was not yet quite cold, though it had a resinous flavor, from its -covering. The Deacon broke one of the cornpones in two and gave half of -it to Shorty, with as much as he thought he should have of the meat and -vegetables. Then he fed Si, who relished the new diet almost as much as -he had relished the chicken broth. The Deacon made a hearty supper -himself, and then stored away the rest in his "cellar" under the crib, -rolling up some more large stones as an additional precaution. - -"Well, you beat me," said Shorty admiringly, as he studied over the -Deacon's booty. "I used to think I was as slick a forager as there was -in the army, but I simply ain't in the same class with a man that kin go -out in this Sahara Desert o' starvation and bring in a four-year-old -horse and a wagon-load o' cooked vittles. I'd never even see the -distance pole runnin' with him. Gen. Rosecrans ought to know you. He'd -appoint you Commissary-General o' the army at once. When I get a little -stronger I want you to take me out and learn me the ABC's o' foragin'. -To think that me and Si wuz grievin' about your being ketched by the -guerrillas. What fools we wuz. It wuz lucky for the guerrillas that you -didn't run acrost 'em, for you'd a ketched 'em, instid o' 'em you." - -"That's what I come purty nigh doin'," chuckled the Deacon. "But what in -the world 'm I goin' to do with that hoss and buckboard? I must hunt -around and find that poor beast some corn for tonight. He's bin driven -purty sharp, and he needs his supper jest as bad as I did mine, and I -won't feel right unless he has it. Then I must try to git him back to -his owner termorrer." - -"If he's here to-morrer," said Shorty, looking at the animal carefully, -"it'll be a miracle. That's too good a hoss to be kept in this camp by -anybody lower'n a Brigadier-General. The boys'll steal him, the Captains -take him, the Colonels seize him, and the Brigadier-Generals appropriate -him for the Government's service. They'll call it by different names, -but the horse goes all the same. I don't see how you're goin' to keep -him till mornin'. You can't put him in your cellar. If they don't steal -him, it's because it's too dark to see him. I'm sorry to say there's an -awful lot o' thieves in the Army o' the Cumberland." - -And Shorty looked very grieved over the deplorable lack of regard in the -army for the rights of property. He seemed to mourn this way for several -minutes, and then broke out with: - -"Say, Mr. Klegg, I've an idee. That Quartermaster o' the Maumee Muskrats -is a sport from way back. He'd give his vary eyes for a good hoss—one -that kin beat everybody else's. The way the horses are run down now this -one kin carry a heavy handicap, and beat any one in camp. I'll bet I kin -take this hoss over to him and git $150 in greenbacks for him, for he -kin win a bushel o' money with him the very first day." - -"Shorty," said the Deacon, in a tone that made that worthy start, -"necessity and the stress o' circumstances may force me to do many -things which are agin my conscience, and for which I shall repent in -sackcloth and ashes, if needs be, but I hain't yit bin reduced to -sellin' stolen property. The Lord save me from that. That hoss and -wagon's got to go back to the owner, if I risk my life in takin' 'em." - -Shorty wisely kept his reply to himself, but he thought how absurd it -was to have men about the army who were too old and set in their ideas -to learn army ways. He muttered to himself: - -"If he succeeds in gittin' that hoss outen camp agin, I'll expect to see -the back o' my neck, or something else quite as wonderful." - -The Deacon finally succeeded in getting a couple of ears of corn and a -handful of fodder for the horse's supper, and it was decided that Shorty -should watch him the first part of the night, and the Deacon from thence -till morning. - -As the Deacon pondered over the matter in the early morning hours, he -saw that his only chance of getting the horse back was to start with him -before daylight revealed him to the men in camp. - -Well, I'll Be Dumbed, Muttered the Deacon. 35 - -"I'll drive him well outside our lines, and as near to the house as I -think it prudent to go, and then turn him loose," he said to himself. -"If he's got the sense o' the horses up North he'll go straight home, -and then my conscience will be clear. If he don't, I'll have done all I -could. The Lord don't ask unreasonable things of us, even in atonement." - -So he cooked as good a breakfast for the boys as he could prepare from -his materials, woke up Shorty and put him in charge, and an hour before -daybreak turned the horse's head toward the pontoon bridge, and started -him on a lively trot. - -He had only fairly started when a stern voice called out to him from a -large tent: - -"Here, you, stop that trotting. What do you mean? Don't you know that -it's strictly against orders to trot horses in their present condition?" - -"Excuse me. Captain," said the Deacon. "I" - -"Blank your Captain," roared the voice; "I'm no Captain." - -"Major," said the Deacon deprecatingly. - -"To thunder with your Majors, you ignorant fool. You" - -"I beg your pardon, Colonel. I was" - -"What's the matter with you, you ignoramus?" roared the voice, more -indignantly than ever. "Don't you know Brigade Headquarters when you see -them? Don't you know your own officers when you hear their voices?" - -"Rayly, General," said the Deacon, much disturbed, "I didn't mean to -insult you. I'm only a citizen, and a stranger in the camp, and—" - -"A citizen and a stranger," echoed the voice. "What are you doing in -here, anyway? Orderly, bring that man in here till I see him." - -The Orderly started to obey, when a regiment which had been ordered to -report at Headquarters came up at quick step, halted, and ordered arms -with much clatter. The frightened horse bounded off down the road, with -the Deacon sawing on the lines and trying to stop him. - -He only slowed down when he came up near a corral of other horses, to -which he turned for companionship and sympathy. - -"Frosty mornin' makes that hoss purty frisky," said the Deacon, as he -readjusted his hat, and got himself in shape after his jolting. "Lucky, -though. I didn't like that old General's voice. I'm afraid he had it in -for me, and would 've made me trouble for lowerin' his dignity by -callin' him Captain. Big officers are awfully tetchy." - -"Here, who are you? And what are you doin' out there?" came the stem -inquiry from the dark depths of one of the sheds. - -"Excuse me. General," answered the Deacon hastily, "I" - -"General? Who are you callin' General, you fool? Don't try to be funny -with me. You know I'm no General." - -"I meant Colonel," the Deacon started to explain. - -"The blazes you did. You expect Colonels to run hoss-corrals, and manage -mule boarding-houses, do you? stop your blimmed nonsense and answer my -questions." - -"Major, I was tryin' to say" - -"I'll Major you when I git my boots on and git out there. Don't think to -shut my eye up callin' me big titles." - -"But, Captain." - -"I'm no Captain, neither. I'm plain Jim Crimmins, Quartermaster- -Sergeant, in charge o' this corral, that you're stealin' around. I'm -comin' out there to break every bone in your body. You infernal sneaks -'ve pestered the life out o' me stealin' my corn and my mules, even. -I've bin watchin' you piroutin' around in the dark for a long time. I'm -goin' to stop this business if I've got to kill every thievin' varmint -in the Army o' the Cumberland. Don't you dare move till I come out, or -I'll put a bullet through you. Do you hear?" - -"I don't believe I've got any more time to waste on that bellerin' bull- -calf," said the Deacon to himself. He gathered up the lines, turned the -horse's head toward the road, and gave him a lick with a switch, and he -dashed off, followed by a couple of shots from Mr. Crimmins, to give -color and confirmation to the story that worthy related later in the day -of a particularly audacious attempt on the part of sneak thieves to get -away with his mules and corn, and which was frustrated by his vigilance -and daring. - -As the horse slowed down to a walk again a Sergeant of the Guard at the -head of a squad stepped out and took him by the reins. - -"Here, who are you, and where are you going so early in the morning?" he -inquired. - -"My name's Josiah Klegg, sir," said the Deacon, prudently ignoring -titles. "I'm from Injianny, and am down here 'tendin' to my son, who -belongs to Co. Q, 200th Injianny Volunteers, and who was shot at -Chickamaugy. I borryed this hoss and wagon from a man out in the country -to bring in some vittles for him and his pardner, and some boughs for -'em to sleep on, and I'm takin' 'em back to him." - -"Well, that story may be true, and it mayn't. Probably it ain't. Men -don't get up before daybreak to take back borrowed horses. You're up to -some devilment; probably taking information or contraband out to the -rebels. I haven't time now to investigate. I'll put you under guard -until I have. As for the horse, we've got use for him. McCook's Cavalry -needs about a thousand such as he. We're out lookin' for horses now. -Unhitch him, boys." - -The Deacon started to make an earnest protest, but at that moment the -rebels on Lookout Mountain made their usual daylight salute to the camp. -The size of the squad had attracted their attention, and a shell -shrieked over and struck quite near. This was too much for the nervous -horse. He made a convulsive leap, which scattered the guards around him -and almost threw the Deacon out of the seat. When the latter recovered -himself, and got the horse under control again the guards were far away, -and he was at the approach to the pontoon bridge. - -"I'll be plagued," mused the Deacon, as the horse moved over the bridge -at a slow walk, and gave him time to think, "the army's a terrible -place. I had no sort o' trouble when I was doin' something that mebbe I -oughtn't to have done, but the minute I start out to do a right thing I -meet no end o' difficulties. But these are the obstacles that Satan -always puts in the way of the righteous. I'm goin' to git this boss -'back to its owner, or know the reason why. Git up, there." - -He soon came to a piece of the road which was in full view of the rebels -on Lookout Mountain. They had been preparing the day before to stop all -travel by that route, and the Deacon's was the first vehicle that had -appeared since they had got their guns planted. They waited until he was -fairly out into the open, and sent a shell which struck a panel of the -fence off to the left, burst with a crash, and sent rails, chunks, -stones and pieces of brush flying through the air. The horse became -frantic, and tore up the hill at such a rate the buckboard and harness -speedily went to pieces, and the Deacon was flung in the ditch, while -the horse galloped wildly over the hill. - -The Union artillerymen on Moccasin Point had evidently anticipated just -such an attempt on the part of the rebels. Instantly a score of guns -which had been placed to cover that spot thundered out, and their shells -could be seen striking and tearing up the ground all around where the -shot came from. Other rebel guns came to the assistance of the first -one; the Union batteries within reach started in to help their side, and -in a minute the whole country was shaking with the uproar. - -"Well, I'll be dumbed," muttered the Deacon, crawling out of the ditch, -shaking himself together again, cleaning off the mud, and trying to -comprehend what was happening. "Did anybody ever see sich a commotion -kicked up over one four-year-old hoss, and not a particularly good hoss -at that? 't'd take a mighty smart man to git as much as $100 for him up -in Posey County. Nobody but a Methodist Elder could do it. I've sold a -better hoss than that for $80, and got all he was worth." - -He stood for a few minutes and looked at the grand display until the -Union batteries, satisfied that they had finally quashed the impudent -rebel, ceased firing, and then he looked around. - -"Well, that buckboard's done for. I can't take it back. It's only good -for kindlin' wood now. But I may ketch the hoss and take him back." - -He went up on top of the hill, and saw the horse standing under a tree, -apparently pondering over what had happened, and wondering whether he -should run farther or remain where he was. - -The horse gave him a glad whinney of recognition, as if congratulating -him on escaping from the crash of matter. - -"Yes, you beast," snorted the Deacon; "I'm safe, but no thanks to you. -You done your best to kick my brains out. Twice your condemned heels -jest grazed my eyebrows. All the thanks I git for tryin' to save you -from being starved to death there in Chattanoogy, and git you back home. -But you go back home all the same." - -He led the horse to a rock, mounted him, and started up the road. He -reached the point where the road to the house turned off, and was -debating whether he should go farther or turn the horse loose there, -when he saw a company of cavalry coming up the main road from the other -direction—that toward Bridgeport. Though they wore blue overcoats, he -had learned enough about army life to not trust this implicitly, so he -prudently rode into the woods to watch them until he could make sure. -The company came up to where the roads parted, and he overheard a man -who rode by the Captain at the head, and who wore a semi-soldier costume -and seemed to be a scout or guide, tell the Captain: - -"Their camp's right over there on that ridge (pointing to the crest on -which the Deacon had seen the smoke). They're probably on the lookout -for us, and we'll have to be very careful if we get near enough to jump -them. I thought I saw one of their lookouts about here when we came up. -Yes, there he is in there." - -The Deacon had started to ride boldly toward them when he was sure they -were Union troops, and a couple of the men, who in their dealings with -bushwhackers had learned that it is best to shoot first and ask -questions afterward, had promptly fired, and cut twigs uncomfortably -near the Deacon's head. His horse plunged, but he kept him in hand and -called out: - -"Hold on! Hello! Don't do that. I'm a friend. I'm from Injianny." - -"You're a devil of a way from home, and in a bad neighborhood," said one -of the men who had fired, as he slipped another cartridge into his -Sharpe's. - -The Captain interrogated him as to who he was and what he was doing out -there, while the scout fidgeted in his saddle over the time that was -being wasted. - -"Captain," said the scout finally, "we must hustle if we're going to -strike those fellers before dark. We can't go down here, but' ll have to -make a long circuit around, so they won't see us." - -"That's so," said the Captain, adjusting himself to start. - -"Captain," said one of the men, "my horse can't go any farther. He's -been in bad shape, and he fell and broke his knee coming up the hill." - -"Well, here, take that citizen's horse. Old man, get off, and let this -man have that horse." - -The Deacon started to protest, but the man was in a hurry, and almost -pulled him off, and slapped his own saddle on in a flash. - -"But what am I do to?" asked the Deacon bewildered. - -"Do? Do as you please," laughed the Captain. "You are as well off here -as anywhere. When a man's away from home one place's the same's another -to him. Here, I'll tell you what you can do. See that cow back there? -The boys have been trailing her along, in hopes to get her into -Chattanooga and make beef of her. We've got to leave her now, for we are -going on the jump. We'll make you a present of her and this broken-down -horse. That'll start you in business. A horse and a cow's a big start -for any man. Good-by. Attention, company! Forward, head of column -right—March!" - -"Well, I've done all I could," said the Deacon, going back and picking -up the rope which was tied to the cow's horns. "The Lord knows I've -tried hard enough to git that hoss back. The cow looks as if she's a -good milker. A little milk'll do the boys good. Then, they kin have -fresh beef. Come along, Bos." - -Late at night he tied the cow to the corn-crib and went to his weary -bed. - - - - - -CHAPTER III. A COW IN CAMP THE DEACON HAS SOME EXPERIENCES WITH THE -QUADRUPED. - -IT DID not seem that so many dangers beset the possession of a cow as of -a horse, yet the Deacon prudently rose while it was yet dark to look -after the animal. - -He was none too soon, for there were getting to be thousands of very -hungry men in Chattanooga who remembered the axiom about the early bird -catching the worm, and thought the best time for "snatching" something -was in the dark just before reveille. If they could find nothing better, -and too often they did not, they would rob the mules of their scanty -rations of corn, and soon a mule's feed-box had to be as carefully -guarded as the commissary tent of the Headquarters mess. - -These morning prowlers were as cunning as rats in finding their prey, -and the only security that a man had of keeping his rations till morning -was to eat them up before he went to bed. Their sharp eyes had not -failed to notice the signs of unusual plenty about the Deacon's corn- -crib, and they gave it earnest attention. - -The Deacon had slipped out very quietly, and taken a little turn around -the end of the crib, to see that his other provisions had not been -disturbed, before he approached the cow. As he did so he saw a figure -squatted beside her, and heard a low voice say: - -"So, Bos! H'ist, Lady! H'ist up, you measly heifer!" - -"Well, I declare to goodness," gasped the Deacon. "How could they've -found her out so soon?" - -He walked quietly up to the milker, and remarked: - -"Purty early in the mornin' to do your milkin'. Didn't used to git up so -early when you was at home, did you?" - -"Sh—sh—sh!" whispered the other. "Don't speak so loud. You'll wake up -that old galoot inside. Keep quiet till I fill my cup, and then I'll let -you have a chance. There'll be plenty for you." - -"Purty good milker, is she?" inquired the Deacon with interest. - -"Naw!" whispered the other. "She's got her bag full, but she won't give -down worth a cent." - -"Better let me try my hand," said the Deacon. "You've bin away from the -farm for so long you've probably lost the knack. I'm a famous milker." - -"You'll play fair?" said the milker doubtfully. - -"Yes; just hold her till I go inside and git my bucket, and I'll milk -your cup clean full," answered the Deacon, starting inside the corn- -crib. - -"Well, you're a cool one," gasped the milker, realizing the situation. -"But I'll hold you to your bargain, and I'll play fair with you." - -The Deacon came back with his bucket, and after filling the man's cup as -full as it would hold, handed it to him, and then began drawing the rest -into his own bucket. - -Careful milker that he was, he did not stop until he had stripped the -last drop, and the cow, knowing at once that a master hand was at her -udder, willingly yielded all her store. - -"There," said the Deacon, "if anybody gits any more out o' her till -evenin' he's welcome to it." - -Two or three other men had come up in the meanwhile with their cups, and -they started, without so much as asking, to dip their cups in. - -"Hold on!" commanded the first-comer sternly. "Stop that! This old man's -a friend o' mine, and I won't see him imposed on. Go somewhere else and -git your milk." - -A wordy war ensued, but the first-comer was stalwart and determined. The -row waked up Shorty, who appeared with an ax. - -"All right," said one of the men, looking at the ax; "keep your durned -old milk, if you're so stingy toward hungry soldiers. It'll give you -milk-sick, anyway. There's lots o' milk-sick 'round here. All the cows -have it. That cow has it bad. I kin tell by her looks. We had lots o' -milk-sick in our neighborhood, and I got real well-acquainted with it. I -kin tell a milk-sick cow as fur as I kin see her, and if that cow hasn't -it, no one ever had it." - -He made a furtive attempt to kick the bucket over, which was frustrated -by the Deacon's watchfulness. - -"Better do something with that cow right off," advised the first-comer, -as he walked off. "You can't keep her in camp all day. Somebody'll git -her away from you if they have to take her by main force." - -"Are you willin' to risk the milk-sick?" asked the Deacon, handing -Shorty a cupful of the milk, together with a piece of cornpone. - -"Yum—yum, I should say so," mumbled that longlegged gentleman. "I'll -make the milk sicker'in it kin me, you bet. Jest bring along all the -milk-sick you've got on hand, and I'll keep it from hurtin' anybody -else. That's the kind of a philanthropist I am." - -"I see you've got a cow here," said a large man wearing a dingy blue -coat with a Captain's faded shoulder-straps. "I'm a Commissary, and it's -my duty to take her." - -He walked over and in a businesslike way began unfastening the rope. The -Deacon shuddered, for he had too much respect for shoulder-straps to -think of resisting. Shorty looked up from his breakfast, scanned the -newcomer, and said: - -"Look here. Bill Wiggins, you go back and take off that Captain's coat -as quick as you kin, or I'll have you arrested for playin' officer. None -o' you Maumee Muskrats kin play that little game on the 200th Injianny. -We know you too well. And let me advise you, Mr. Wiggins, the next time -you go out masqueradin' to make up clean through. That private's cap and -pantaloons burned around the back, and them Government cow-hides give -you dead away, if your mug didn't. If they wuz givin' commissions away -you wouldn't be a brevet Corporal. Skip out, now, for here comes the -Provost-Guard, and you'd better not let him catch you wearin' an -officer's coat unless you want to put in some extra time on the -breastworks." - -Mr. Wiggins made off at once, but he had scarcely gotten out of sight -when a mounted officer, attracted by the strange sight of a cow in camp, -rode up and inquired whence she came and to whom she belonged. - -The Deacon was inside the crib taking care of Si, and the burden of the -conversation fell upon Shorty. - -"Me any my pardner sent out into the country and bought that cow," he -said, "with three $10 gold pieces we've bin savin' up ever since we've -bin in the service. We wouldn't give 'em for anything else in the world. -But we wuz jest starved for a drink o' fresh milk. Never felt so hungry -for anything else in our lives. Felt that if we could jest git a fillin' -o' fresh milk it'd make us well agin." - -"Paid $30 in gold for her," said the officer, examining the cow -critically. "Pretty high price for that kind of a cow." - -"Well, I don't know about that," answered Shorty argumentatively, and -scenting a possible purchaser. "Good fresh cows are mighty scarce -anywhere at this time o' year, and particularly in this region. Next -Spring they'll be much cheaper. But not this, one. That's no ordinary -cow. If you'll look carefully at her you'll see that she's a -thoroughbred. I'm a boss judge o' stock myself, and I know. Look at her -horns, her bag, and her lines. She's full three-quarters Jersey." - -"What's the other quarter," asked the officer, much amused. - -"Jest—jest—jest—cow," answered Shorty, momentarily stumped for once in -his volubility. And then he went on more garrulously than ever, to make -amends. "She's as gentle as a lamb, will live on two ears o' corn and a -kind word a day, and give two gallons o' milk, nearly all cream. Me and -my pardner wouldn't take $10.0 in gold for that cow. We're goin' to send -her up home as soon as the lines are open, to start our stock-farm -with." - -"Where did you say you got her?" said the officer, getting off his horse -and going up closer to examine the animal. - -"O, we bought her from a man named Wilson over in the Sequatchie Valley. -You must've heard of him. We've knowed him a long time—before he moved -down here from Injianny. Runs a fine stockfarm. Cried like a baby when -he parted with his cow. Wouldn't have done it, but he had to have the -money to buy provisions for his family." - -"Let me see," said the officer, looking at him. "Seems to me I ought to -know you. Where do you belong?" - -"Co. Q, 200th Injianny Volunteers." - -"I thought so. I do know you. You are Shorty. I don't want to say -anything against your honesty or your veracity, but if Gen, Rosecrans -was to order me to get him the smartest forager and smoothest liar in -the Army of the Cumberland, I think I should order you to report at -Headquarters." - -"You do me proud," said Shorty with a grin, but an inward feeling that -trouble was impending. - -"Now, tell me the truth. Where did you get that cow?" - -"I have bin tellin' you the truth," protested Shorty with an injured -air. "Why should I tell you a lie about a little thing like a cow?" - -"You are not within a mile of the truth. I know it. Look here: I believe -that is Gen. Rosecrans's own cow. She's gone, and I got an order to look -around for her. I've never seen her, but from the description given me I -believe that's she. Who brought her here?" - -Purty Good Milker, is She? Inquired the Deacon 51 - -"Great Jehosephat, he's after the Deacon," thought Shorty with a -shudder. "I mustn't let him git him." Then he spoke out boldly: - -"I brung her here." - -"Shorty," said the officer with a smile, "I admire your talents for -prevarication more than I can express. As a good, off-hand, free-going, -single-gaited liar you have few equals and no superiors. Your lies -usually have so much probability in them that they seem better than the -truth—for your purposes. But this has no probability whatever in it. I -doubt if you are able to walk to Headquarters. If you were well and -strong, I should believe you quite capable not only of stealing the cow -from Army Headquarters, but President Lincoln's cow from his back-door -of the White House. But you are good now because you haven't strength -enough to be up to any devilment. Now, tell me, who brought that cow -here?" - -"I brung her here myself, I tell you. I felt unusually peart last night. -Felt that I had to snatch something jest to keep my hand in, like. -Couldn't find nothin' else on four legs worth takin', and couldn't take -nothin' that couldn't walk. So I took her. You kin send me to the guard- -house if you want to. I expect I deserve it." - -And Shorty tried to look contrite and penitent. - -"Yes; you're in nice shape to send to the guardhouse. I'd sent you there -quick enough if you were well, for telling me such a preposterous lie. -You've usually paid more respect to my intelligence by telling me -stories that I could believe if I wanted to, as I usually wanted do; but -this is too much." - -As the conversation began the Deacon had passed out with a bucket to go -to the creek for water for the cow. He now came back, set the bucket -down in front of the cow, and began, from force of long habit in caring -for his stock, to pick off some burs, and otherwise groom her. - -"Say, my friend," said the officer, "who brought that cow in?" - -Shorty had been frantically trying to catch the Deacon's eye, and was -making all manner of winks and warning gestures without avail, for the -Deacon answered frankly: - -"I brung her in." - -"You're just the man I'm looking for," returned the officer. Then -turning to a Sergeant who had just come up at the end of a squad, he -said: - -"Here, Sergeant, take charge of this citizen and this cow, and bring -them both up to Army Headquarters. Don't let that citizen get away from -you. He's a slick one." - -As they moved off. Shorty bolted into the crib and shouted: - -"Great Jehosephat, Si, that dad of your'n 's a goner! He's got nerve -that looms up like Lookout Mountain! He's a genius! He's got git-up and -git to spare! What do you think he done last night? Walked up to Gen. -Rosecrans's Headquarters, and stole the General's cow right from under -the noses o' the Headquarters Guards, and brung her down here and milked -her. Did you ever hear o' sich snap? I only wisht that me and you was -half the man that he is, old as he is. The only trouble is that he isn't -as good a hider as he is on the take. They've dropped on to him, and -they're now takin' him up to Headquarters. But he'll find some way to -git off. There's no end to that man. And to think that we've bin playin' -him right along for a hayseed." - -And Shorty groaned in derision of his own acumen. - -"Pop stole Gen. Rosecrans's cow from Headquarters? They've arrested him -and are taking him up there?" ejaculated Si in amazement. "I don't -believe a word of it." - -"Well, the cow was here. He brung her here last night, and owned up to -it. He milked her, and you drunk some of the milk. The Provost-Guard's -now walkin' the cow and him up to Headquarters. These are early mornin' -facts. You kin believe what you dumbed please." - -"Pap arrested and taken to Army Headquarters," groaned Si, in deepest -anxiety. "What in the world will they do with him?" - -"O, don't worry," said Shorty cheerfully. - -"Your dad ain't as green as you are, if he has lived all his life on the -Wabash. He's as fly as you make 'em. He's fixin' up some story as he -goes along that'll git him out of the scrape slick as a whistle. Trust -him." - -"Shorty," said Si severely, "my father don't fix up stories. Understand -that. He's got some explanation for this. Depend upon it." - -"They call it explanation when it gits a feller out, and blamed lie when -it don't," muttered Shorty to himself, as he went out again, to follow -the squad as far as he could with his eyes. "Anyway, I'll bet on the -Deacon." - -The squad arrived before Headquarters, and the officer dismounted and -went in. Early as it was he found the indefatigable Rosecrans at work -with his staff and clerks. - -"General, I've found your cow, and got the man who took her," said the -officer. - -"Good," said the General joyfully. "Now we'll have some fresh milk -again. I can give up anything cheerfully, rather than fresh milk. Say -you've got the thief, too?" continued the General, relapsing into one of -his testy moods. "Put the rascal at the hardest labor you can find. I'll -give him a lesson that stealing from Headquarters don't pay. The rascals -in my army seem to think that I and everything I have belongs to them as -much as it does to me. But I'll draw the line at my cow and my horses. -They can steal everything else but them. Hold on a minute. I'll go out -and see if it's really my cow." - -"Yes, that is she; glad to see you back, Missy," said the General, -patting the cow on the back. "Take her back and give her a good feed, if -you can find it, for probably she's pretty hungry." - -Then turning to the Deacon: - -"You old rascal, you'll steal the General's cow, will you? Fond of -thorobred stock, are you? And a citizen, too. Well, I'll see whether a -month of hard work on the fortifications won't cure you of your fancy -for blooded cattle." - -"Look here, Gen. Rosecrans," said the Deacon firmly, "I didn't steal -your cow, and I won't allow you nor no other man to say so. I'm an -honest man, or at least I've always passed for one at home. I was out -over the river yesterday, tryin' to git a hoss back to his owner, and a -Captain of a cavalry company come along and took my hoss away, and give -me this cow in exchange. He said his men'd got the cow down the road -apiece, and that's all I know of her." - -"A very likely story," sneered several of the staff. - -"Let me see," said the General, who prided himself on remembering names -and faces. "Haven't I met you before? Aren't you from Indiana?" - -"Yes, sir; from Posey County." - -"And you've got a son in one of the regiments?" - -"Yes, sir. Corporal Si Klegg, Co. Q, 200th Injianny Volunteers. Him and -his partner Shorty wuz badly wounded, and I come down here to take care -of 'em. I've bin moseyin' around out in the country tryin' to find -something for 'em to eat, and the other day I—borryed a hoss, which I -was tryin' to take back, when this cavalry Captain come along, and tuk -the hoss away from me and give me this cow instid. I hadn't no idee -where he got her, and he didn't give me time to ask, for he started on -the jump after some guerrillas." - -"I shouldn't wonder if his story is true, General," said a member of the -staff. "You see, your cow has been gone really two days. Day before -yesterday we sent Blue Jim out into the country with her. She needed it -awfully. We laid the law down to Blue Jim about being very careful with -her and keep her near the road. It seems that he found a good piece of -meadow, and turned her loose in it, but then, nigger like, he forgot all -that we had told him about staying light alongside of her, and wandered -off to gather persimmons, and afterward fell asleep in a fence-corner. -When he woke up the cow was gone, and he was scared nearly to death. He -hunted around for her all day, and came in last night nearly starved to -death, and whimpering and blubbering. We told him that you would order -him shot as soon as you found out. He has been to see the Chaplain -twice, to prepare for death." - -"So?" said the General, smiling. "Well, Mr.— Mr.— I did know your name -once—" - -"Klegg, Josiah Klegg," answered the Deacon promptly. - -"Yes; how stupid of me to forget it. Well, Mr. Klegg, I'm very much -obliged to you for finding my cow and bringing her home. You've got a -very fine son—splendid soldier. How is he getting along?" - -"Tollably well, General, thank you. Look here, General, please let me -take those boys home. If you will, I'll send 'em back to you in a few -weeks good as new. All they need is mother's cookin' and mother's -nursin' to bring 'em right out. And I want to go home, too. The army is -demoralizin' me. I guess I'm gittin' old, and 'm not as strong to resist -sin and the suggestions of sin as I once was. I'm gittin' scared of -myself down here." - -"It's pretty hard work getting back now," said the General. "Do you -think you can do it, if I give you leave?" - -"O, yes. Jest give the order, and I'll get the boys and myself back -home, sure's you're livin'." - -"Very well," said the General; "you shall have the chance." He turned to -one of his staff and said: - -"Look into this matter. If the Surgeon thinks they can be moved, have -furloughs and transportation made out for them and the father. Good-by, -Mr. Klegg. Take good care of those boys, and send them back to me as -soon as they are well." - - - - - -CHAPTER IV. THE DEACON'S PLAN DEALING WITH AN OBSTRUCTION TO THE -HOMEWARD JOURNEY. - -THE Surgeon, who had conceived quite a good opinion of the Deacon's -ability, readily certified that the boys could be safely taken home, -since they would have the benefit of his care and attention, and the -necessary papers came down from Headquarters that day. The Deacon had -the good luck to find his old friend, the Herd-Boss, who took a deep -interest in the matter. He offered to have as good a team as he had at -the crib the next morning, with the wagon-bed filled with cedar-boughs, -to make as easy a couch as possible for the rough ride over the -mountains. - -With his heart full of hope and joy, the Deacon bustled around to make -every possible preparation for the journey. - -"It's a long way back home, I know," he said to himself, "and the road's -rough and difficult as that to the New Jerusalem; but Faith and Hope, -and the blessin' o' God'll accomplish wonders. If I kin only hold the -souls in them boys' bodies till I kin git 'em back to Bean Blossom -Crick, I'll trust Mother Klegg's nursin' to do the rest. If there ever -was a woman who could stand off the Destroyin' Angel by good nursin' -that woman's Mother Klegg, bless her soul." - -The next morning he was up betimes, and cooked the boys as good a -breakfast as he could out of the remainder of his store and what he -could get from the hospital, and then gave what was left to whoever -came. The comfortable crib, which had cost the Deacon so much labor, had -been pre-empted by the Surgeon for some of his weakest patients. - -The news had reached the 200th Ind. that the boys were going home, and -they came over in a body to say "Good-by." - -The sight of them pained the Deacon's good heart. Instead of the -hundreds of well-fed, well-clothed, comfortable-looking young men he had -seen at Murfreesboro a few months before, he now saw a shrunken band of -gaunt, unkempt men, their clothing ragged and patched, many of them -almost shoeless, many of them with pieces of blankets bound around their -feet instead of shoes, many of them with bandages about their still -unhealed wounds, but still keeping their places bravely with their -comrades, and stubbornly refusing to count themselves among the sick and -disabled, though it required all their will-power to do their share of -the duty. But all of them were brimming over with unconquerable -cheerfulness and pluck. They made light of their wounds and -disabilities, jested at one another's ragged clothes, laughed at their -hunger, teased one another about stealing corn from mules, jeered at the -rebel shells from Lookout Mountain, yelled derisively at the rebel -pickets across the creek, and promised them to soon come out and run -Bragg's army off the face of the earth. - -All were eager to do something toward the comfort of their departing -comrades. They scanned the arrangement of the boughs in the wagon with -critical eyes, and picked them over and rearranged them, so as to avoid -every chance of uncomfortable knots and lumps. They contributed blankets -from their own scanty supply, to make sure that there would be plenty, -and so many were eager to help carry Si out and put him in the wagon, -that the Orderly-Sergeant of Co. Q had to take charge of the matter and -make a detail. The teamster was given strong admonitions as to careful -driving, and fearful warning as to what would happen to him in case of -an accident. - -"Hain't anything to send back home with you, boys, this time, but our -love," said one of them. "That's the only thing that's safe now-a-days -from bein' stole, because no one kin eat or wear it. Tell the folks to -pay no attention to what the paper says. No danger o' bein' run out o' -Chattanoogy. Tell 'em that we're all fat, ragged and sassy, and only -waitin' the word from Gen. Rosecrans to fall on old Bragg like a -thousand o' brick and mash the lights outen him." - -"Yes," joined another, "tell 'em we've got plenty to eat, sich as it is, -and good enough, what there is of it. Don't worry about us. We're only -blowin' up our muscle to git a good lick at old Bragg." - -"Your muscle," said Shorty, satirically. "You've got about as much -muscle now as a musketo. But you're good stuff all the same, and you're -goin' to everlastingly lick the rebels when the time comes. I only wisht -I was here to help you do it. I don't think I'll go any further than -Nashville. I'll be well enough to come back by that time. I'll see Si -and his father off safely, and then gether up a crowd of other -convalescents, and come back and clean the rebels off your cracker -line." - -"Good-by, boys," piped out Si. "I'll be back soon. Don't bring on the -big battle till I do. I want to help. Just skirmish around and push the -rebels back into the woods while I'm gone, and hive 'em up for a good -lickin' by the time I git back." - -As the wagon moved off the 200th Ind. gave three cheers, and the -regimental soloist struck up the "Battle Cry of Freedom," in which they -all joined with so much energy as to attract the attention of the rebel -artillerist on Lookout Mountain, who favored them with a shell intended -for their express benefit. It was no better directed than any of its -many predecessors had been, and was greeted with yells of derision, in -which all the camp joined. - -Having done all possible for the boys' comfort, the Deacon had lighted -his pipe and taken his seat on a board laid over the front, where he -could oversee the road and the teamster, and take a parting look at the -animated scenery. The wagon pulled into the line of those moving out -toward Bridgeport, and jogged along slowly for some hours until it was -nearing the top of one of the hills that jutted out close to the -Tennessee River, at the base of Lookout Mountain. The Deacon saw, with a -little nervousness, that they were approaching the open space in which -he had had his experience with the horse and buckboard, and he anxiously -scanned the Craven House slope for signs of a rebel cannon. He saw that -his apprehensions were shared by the drivers of the three or four teams -just ahead. They were whipping up, and yelling at their teams to get -past the danger point as quick as possible. - -The Deacon Reconnoitered the Situation 62 - -They had need of anxiety. A scattering volley of shots came from the -bushes and the rocks on the opposite side of the Tennessee River and one -of the leaders in the team just ahead of him dropped dead in his tracks. -The teams in front were whipped up still harder, and succeeded in -getting away. The shots were answered from a line of our own men on this -side of the river, who fired at the smoke they saw rising. - -The Deacon's own teamster sprang from his saddle, and prudently got in -the shelter of the wagon until the affair would be over. The teamster -next ahead ran forward, and began cutting the fallen mule loose, but -while he was doing so another shot laid the other mule low. The teamster -fell fiat on the ground, and lay there for a minute. Then he cautiously -arose, and began cutting that mule loose, when a shot struck the near- -swing mule in the head, and he dropped. The Deacon kept that solid old -head of his throughout the commotion, and surveyed the scene with cool -observance. - -"There's one feller somewhere over there doin' all that devilment," he -said to Shorty, who was pushing his head eagerly out of the front of the -wagon to find out what was going on. "He's a sharpshooter from way back. -You kin see he's droppin' them mules jest about as fast as he kin load -his gun. Them other fellers over there are jest putterin' away, makin' a -noise. You kin see their shots strikin' down the hill there, and -everywhere, where they ain't doin' nothin'. But that feller's out for -business. I've bin tryin' to locate him. He's somewhere closter than any -o' the others. Their bullets don't quite reach, while his goes home -every time. See there." - -The off-swing mule dropped this time. "Land's sakes," ejaculated the -Deacon, "he's costin' Uncle Sam $150 every time his gun cracks. It's -jest sinful to be destroyin' property that way. Shorty, kin you reach me -that gun o' Si's out o' the wagon? I believe I'll slip down toward the -bank and see if I can't find that feller. I've bin watchin' the willers -along the aidge o' the water, and I believe he's in there." - -"Don't go, Pap," pleaded Si. "Some of the boys on the skirmish-line 'll -find him soon, and settle him. Don't expose yourself. Stay behind the -wagon." - -"Yes, stay back under cover, Deacon," joined in Shorty. "Let the boys -down there 'tend to him. They're gittin' $16 a month for it, and don't -want nobody else to interfere in their job." Just then the near wheel -mule dropped. "Gi' me that gun at onct," said the Deacon sternly. Shorty -handed him the Springfield and its cartridge-box without another word. -The Deacon looked over the rifle, "hefted" it, and tried it at his -shoulder to get its poise, critically examined its sights by aiming at -various objects, and then wiped out its barrel, as he would that of his -trusty hunting-rifle at home. All of his old deer-hunting instincts -revived. He took out several cartridges, turned them over in his hand, -and carefully selected one, tore open the paper, poured the powder in, -removed the paper from the ball, and carefully rammed it home, struck -the butt of the gun on the ground to make sure of its priming, and put -on the cap. - -"Hold her about a foot under. Pap, at 400 yards," said Si, who had -rolled over to the side of the wagon, and was watching him from under -the cover, which was raised up a little. "Put your sights up to the 400 -mark, and then draw the top o' the bead down fine into that notch, and -she'll put it right where you hold her." - -By this time the sharpshooter had finished up the mules on the team -ahead, and begun on that of the Deacon. The firing was furious all along -both sides of the river, and the teamsters in the rear were showing -signs of stampeding. The Wagonmaster was storming up and down to hold -them in place, and the officers in command of the line along the river -bank were raging at their men for not suppressing the fire from over the -stream. - -"Old man, you'd better not go down there," said a Captain as the Deacon -came walking down, looking very grim and determined. "It's getting -hotter down there every minute. The rebels seem determined to stick to -their work, and I've had three men wounded already." - -"Look out for your own men, my son," answered the Deacon, in whom the -fire of battle was burning. "I'll look out for myself. If I'm hit the -Gover'ment won't lose nothin'. I'm only a citizen." - -He had kept his eye on the clump of willows, and was sure that his man -was in there, though the smoke hung around so confusingly that he could -not always make out where a fresh shot came from. He got down to where -an occasional bullet struck in his neighborhood, but that did not -disturb him. He began to feel that thrill of man-hunting which when it -seizes a man is an overpowering passion. - -"I'm goin' to stop him killin' mules," he said to himself. "I rayly hope -I won't kill him, but that's a secondary matter. Providence'll settle -that. It's my duty to stop him. That's clear. If his time's come -Providence'll put the bullet where it'll kill him. If it ain't, it -won't. That's all. Providence indicates my duty to me. The -responsibility for the rest is with Providence, who doeth all things -well." - -He reached the firing-line, strung along the ragged bluffs, and hiding -behind trees, stumps and stones. - -"Lay down, there, old man; grab a root; keep under cover, or you'll git -hit," some of them called out to him, noticing him as they turned to -load. "The air is so full o' bullets you kin ketch your hat full if you -only hold it up." - -"All right, boys, I'll lay low. I've come down here to help you," -answered the Deacon. - -"Bully for you; we need it." - -The Deacon took his position behind a big black walnut, while he -reconnoitered the situation, and got his bearings on the clump of -willows. He felt surer than ever of his man, for he actually saw a puff -of smoke come from it, and saw that right behind the puff stood a willow -that had grown to the proportions of a small tree, and had its bark -rubbed off by the chafing of driftwood against it. - -"He's right behind that peeled wilier," the Deacon said, "and takes a -rest agin it. Three inches to the left o' that, and three foot from the -ground'll take him square in the breast, as he is probably kneeling -down." - -Before him he noticed a deep gully cut in the bank, by which he could -get down to the water's edge where there was a clump of paw-paws -projecting out toward the willows. If he went down there it would make -his shot surer, but there was much danger that he would be noticed and -fired at on his way. - -"I'm goin' down there," he said, after a moment's deliberation. -"Providence has sent me on this job, and intends I shall do it right, -which I kin by goin' down there. Providence'll take care o' me while I'm -goin'. Same time, Providence expects me to show gumption, by not -exposin' myself any more'n possible." - -Therefore he cut a young, thick-branched cedar and held it in front of -him as he crouched and made his way to the gully and down it. - -He had nearly reached the cover of the paw-paws, and was beginning to -congratulate himself that his cedar screen and the turmoil on the bank -above had enabled him to escape attention, when a bullet struck a stone -to his left, and threw it against him with such force as to almost knock -all the breath out of his body. He fell to the ground, but retained -coolness enough to understand that this was to his advantage, and he -crawled slowly forward until he was safely behind the bushes. - -"That come from that hound in the willers," said he to himself. "He's a -sharp one. He got on to me somehow, and now it's me and him fur it. -Anyhow, he didn't kill a mule worth $150 with that bullet. But it'll -take as much as six bits' worth o' porous plaster to take the swellin' -out o' my side where that rock welted me." - -He hitched forward cautiously a little farther, to where he could peer -through the bushes, being exceedingly wary not to repeat his opponent's -mistake, and set their tops in motion. A rock protruding through the -ground in front of him made an opening through which he could see, and -also afforded a rest for his musket. He looked sharply, and at length -was rewarded by seeing the gun-barrel come out by the side of the barked -willow, rested on a bare limb, and apparently aimed at the hill beyond. -He took a long breath to steady his nerves, stretched out his legs to -make himself more at ease, pushed his musket forward until he got -exactly the right poise, aimed about nine inches below the level of his -opponent's gun-barrel, and a little to the left, drew his bead down to a -hair's nicety in the hind sight, and pulled the trigger just as the -rebel sharpshooter did the same. Both muskets seemed to flash at the -same moment. The rebel sprang up through the willows and fell forward on -his face. - -The Deacon picked up his gun and walked back up the bank. The Union -skirmishers had seen the man fall and raised a yell, which they changed -to cheers as they saw the Deacon coming up the bank. - -The Captain in command came up and said: - -"Sir, I congratulate you. That was splendidly done. I was just getting -on to that fellow when you went down. I watched you through my glass, -and saw you fetch him. You are entitled to all our thanks." - -"No thanks to me, sir. I only done the dooty Providence marked out for -me. I hope the man ain't killed. If he is, it's because Providence had -fixed the number of his days. I only wanted to stop his killin' mules, -and destroyin' Gover'ment property, and let us go on our journey in -peace." - -"Well, I wish you'd stay here and help us with some more of those -fellows over there. I'm sure their time has come, but my men don't seem -to be quite as good in carrying out the decrees of Providence as you -are." - -"Thankee, sir," said the Deacon. "But I must go back and 'tend to my -boys. We've got a long ways to go yet to-day." - -He went back to the road and reported to the Wagonmaster: - -"Now you kin clear away them dead mules and go ahead. You won't scarcely -be bothered any more for awhile at least." - - - - - -CHAPTER V. TROUBLE ENCOUNTERED THE BOYS MEET AN OLD FRIEND AND ARE TAKEN -HOME IN A HURRY. - -IT WAS not until late the next afternoon that the wagon-train finally -reached Bridgeport, and the weak, wornout mules had at last a respite -from straining through the mud, under the incessant nagging of the -teamsters' whips and their volleyed blasphemy. - -The Deacon's merciful heart had been moved by the sufferings of the poor -beasts. He had done all that he could on the journey to lighten the -labor of those attached to his own wagon. He had restrained as much as -possible the St. Vitus Dance of the teamster's keen whip, uselessly -remonstrated with him against his profanity, carried a rail to help pry -the wheels out of the mudholes, and got behind and pushed going up the -steep hills. At the journey's end when the exhausted brutes stood -motionless, with their ears drooping and their eyes looking unutterable -disgust at everything connected with the army and war, the Deacon helped -the teamster take their harness off, and carry them as much corn and hay -as the Forage-Master could be pursuaded to dole out to them. - -The Deacon's next solicitude was to get the boys aboard a train that -would start out soon. This was a sore perplexity. All was rush and -bustle about the railroad yard. Trains were coming, being switched -hither and yon, unloaded, and reloaded, and going, in a way that was -simply bewildering to the plain farmer. Men in uniform and men in plain -clothes were giving orders, and these were obeyed, and everybody seemed -too busy to answer questions or give information. - -"Naw; git out. Don't bother me with no questions, I tell you," -impatiently said a man in citizen's clothes, who with arms outspread was -signalling the switching engines. "'Tain't my business to give -information to people. Got all I kin do to furnish brains for them bull- -headed engineers. Go to that Quartermaster you see over there in -uniform. The Government pays him for knowin' things. It don't me." - -"I don't know anything about the different cars, my friend," said the -Quartermaster haughtily. "That's the business of the railroad people. I -simply order them to make up the trains for me, and they do the rest. -There's a Yard-Master over there. Go ask him." - -"Blazes and brimstone," exploded the Yard-Master; "how in the devil's -name do you suppose I can tell anything about the trains going out? I'm -just pestered to death by such fool questions, while the life's being -worried out of me by these snoozers with sardine-labels on their -shoulders, who strut around and give orders, and don't know enough about -railroading to tell a baggage-check from a danger-signal. If they'd only -let me alone I'd have all these trains running in and out like shuttles -in a loom. But as soon's I get one arranged down comes a shoulderstrap -and orders something different. Go off and ask somebody that wears brass -buttons and a basswood head. Don't bother me. Get out of the way of that -engine there." - -In despair, the Deacon turned to a man who wore a Major's shoulder- -straps. - -"No," he answered; "I'm sorry to say that I cannot give you any -information. I'm only in command of the guards here. I haven't anything -to do with the trains. The Quartermasters run them, and they run them as -they run everything they have anything to do with—like the old man and -woman run their fulling mill on the Kankakee—that is, like— - -"Dumb this mixin' o' military and civilian," said the irritated Deacon, -"It's worse'n mixin' religion and politics, and preachin' and tavern- -keepin'. Down there in camp everything was straight and systematic. -Every feller what don't have nothin' in his shoulder-straps bosses all -the fellers what hain't no shoulder-straps at all. The feller what has -one bar in his shoulder-straps bosses all the fellers what hain't nothin -in theirs, and the feller what has two bars bosses the fellers with but -one; the feller with leaves gives orders to the fellers with bars; the -feller with an eagle lays clear over him, and the man with a star jest -makes everybody jump when he talks. Out at the depot on Bean Blossom -Crick Sol Pringle has the say about everything. He knows when the trains -come and when they go, and what goes into 'em. This seems to be a -betwixt and between place, neither pork nor bacon, I don't like it at -all, I always want things straight—either one thing or t'other—reg'ler -close communion, total-immersion Babtist, or free-for-all, shoutin' -Methodist." - -"I think I can help you, 'Squire," said a big, goodnatured-looking -civilian railroad man, who had become interested in the Deacon's -troubles. "I've bin around with the Assistant Yard-Boss pickin' out a -lot o' empties to hustle back to Nashville for grub. That's one o' them -over there, on the furthest switch—X634. See? It's got a chalk mark on -it. I'll help you carry your boys into it, and fix 'em comfortable, and -you'll go back with it all right." - -The Deacon turned gladly to him. The man summoned some of his friends, -who speedily transferred Si and Shorty, with their belongings, cedar -boughs and all, to the car, and made them as comfortable as possible, -and added some little offerings of their own to contribute to the ease -of the journey. They bestired themselves to find something to eat that -the boys would relish, and brought out from somewhere a can of peaches -and one of tomatoes, which proved very acceptable. The Deacon was -overwhelmed with gratitude. - -"I want every one of you to come up to my house, whenever you git a -chance," he said, "and make a long visit. You shall have the very best -that there is on my farm, and if you don't live well it won't be Maria -Klegg's fault. She'll jest lay herself out to be good to men who's bin -good to her son, and when she lays herself out to git up a dinner the -Burnett House in Cincinnati takes a back seat." - -Feeling entirely at ease, he climbed into the car, with a copy of the -Cincinnati Gazette, which he had bought of a newsboy, lighted his pipe, -put on his spectacles, and settled down to a labored, but thorough -perusal of the paper, beginning at the head-lines on the upper left-hand -corner, and taking in every word, advertisements and all, as -systematically as he would weed a garden-bed or milk a cow. The Deacon -never did anything slip-shod, especially when he had to pay 10 cents for -a copy of the Cincinnati Gazette. He was going to get his full money's -worth, and if it was not in the news and editorials, he would take it -out of the advertisements and patent medicine testimonials. He was just -going through a convincing testimonial to the manifold virtues of -Spalding's Prepared Glue, when there was a bump, the sound of coupling, -and his car began to move off. - -"Glory, we're goin' home!" shouted the Deacon, waving his paper -exultingly to the railroad men who had been so helpful. But he exulted -prematurely. The engine rattled ahead sharply for a few hundred yards, -and then began backing to opposite the spot where it had started from. - -"That's all right," said his railroads friends encouragingly. "She's -just run back on the other switch to take up a couple more cars. She'll -go ahead all right presently." - -"I hope it is all right," said the Deacon, a little abashed; "but I -never had any use for a hoss that went back more'n he did forrard." - -But this was only the first of many similar experiences, which occupied -the rest of the day. - -"Good gracious, do they want to wear the track and wheels and injines -clean out?" grumbled the Deacon. "No wonder they're all out o' order. If -I jammed my wagon back and forrard this way it wouldn't last a month. No -wonder war-taxes are high, with everybody doin' all they kin to waste -and destroy property. I've a great mind to write to Gen. Rosecrans or -President Lincoln callin' attention to the way their hired men monkey -around, and waste time, and don't accomplish nothin'." - -Some time after dark, and after the Deacon's patience had become well- -nigh exhausted, the railroad men came around with a lantern, and told -him that at last it was settled, and the train would move out very soon. -There had been conflicting orders during the day, but now the Chief -Quartermaster at Nashville had ordered the train forward. Sure enough, -the train pulled out presently, and went rattling up toward Shelbyville. -Again the Deacon's heart bounded high, and after watching the phantom- -like roadside for awhile, he grew very sleepy, and crawled in alongside -of Si. He waked up at daylight, and went at once to the car-door -hopefully expecting to recognize the outskirts of Nashville, or at least -Murfreesboro. To his dismay, he saw the same sutler's shanty, mule- -corral, pile of baled-hay, and the embalmer's sign on a tree which had -been opposite them while standing on the track at Bridgeport. - -Shorty swore volubly, and for once the Deacon did not check him, but was -sinfully conscious in his heart of approving the profanity. - -"Swearin's awful wicked and low," he said to himself. "A sensible man -can get along without it ordinarily, by the grace o' God and hard -tryin', though I've knowed a yoke o' dumbed steers in a stumpy field to -purty nigh overcome me. But the army's no common experience, and I -s'pose a man's justified in bustin' out in a time like this. Old Job was -lucky that he didn't have to ride on an army railroad." - -In Despair, the Deacon Turned to a Major. 77 - -His railroad friend again came up with some hot coffee and broiled meat, -and explained that after the train had reached a station some miles out -it got orders to run back and clear the track for some trains of troops -from the Army of the Potomac which were being rushed through. The -Deacon's heart almost sank in despair, but he took the coffee and meat, -and helped the boys to it. As they were all eating they heard a voice -outside which struck on the chords of their memories: - -"Where is that Yard-Boss? Where is that Yard-Boss? Find him and send him -to me, immediately." - -"That sounds like Levi Rosenbaum," said Shorty. - -Si nodded affirmatively. - -The Deacon looked out,' and recognized Levi dressed in the hight of -fashion. On his jetty curls sat a glossy silk hat, his clothes looked as -if just taken from the tailor's shop, and they fitted him to perfection. -A large diamond flashed from his scarfpin, and another gleamed in a ring -on his right hand as he waved it in giving orders to the men around. -Every eye was fixed on him, and when he spoke there was hastening to -obey. The Yard-Boss was coming at a run. - -"Why are those cotton-cars still standing there this morning, after the -orders I gave you yesterday?" asked Levi, in tones of severest -reprehension, as that official came up. - -"Why, Mr. Rosenbaum," said that official apologetically—he was the same -man who had so severely snubbed the Deacon the day before—"you see I had -the train made up and all ready to start, when there came orders—" - -"Whose orders?" demanded Levi. "Who dares give orders that over-ride -mine? You go at once and have an engine—the best one you have—hitched -on. Couple on my car, and be ready to start in 15 minutes. Fifteen -minutes I give you," continued he, looking at his watch. "Tell the Train -Dispatcher to clear everything into switches until we get to -Murfreesboro, and have the operator at Murfreesboro lay by everything -till we get to Nashville." - -The Yard-Boss rushed off to execute the order. - -"Great Jehosephat, what's come over Levi?" muttered Shorty. "Has he -become the High-muk-a-muk of the whole army? Have they put him in Gen. -Rosecrans's place?" - -"Will I dare to speak to such a high-flyer?" said the Deacon, -doubtfully. - -Levi's eyes, flashed from one point to another, rested on the Deacon for -a moment, and the latter wreathed his face with a grin of recognition. -Then Levi's stern countenance relaxed with a still broader grin. - -"Hello, 'Squire," he shouted joyously. "Is that you? Where are the -boys?" And he rushed forward with outstretched hand. - -"I've got 'em in here, badly hurt," answered the Deacon, jumping to the -ground and grasping the outstretched hand in his own horny palm. "I'm -very glad to see you, Mr. Rosenbaum." - -"Glad ain't no name for it," said Levi. "Did you say you'd got the boys -in there? Here, you men, bring me two or three of those cracker-boxes." - -By the aid of the cracker-boxes Levi climbed into the car, and shook the -boys' hands, and cried and talked mingled gladness and sympathy in his -broken English. - -"What place have you got, and what are you doin' down here, Mr. -Rosenbaum," the Deacon asked in the first lull. - -"O, I'm Special Agent of the Treasury in charge of the cotton business. -You see, these rascals have been stealing the Treasury blind, in cotton, -and they had to have an honest man down here, who was up to all their -tricks, and wouldn't stand no nonsense. They sent me, and gave me orders -which make me boss of the whole outfit. None of them outrank me about -these trains." - -"So I see," said the Deacon. "Wisht I'd had a handful of your authority -yesterday." - -"Here, we're wasting time," said Levi suddenly. "You're tryin' to get -these boys back home. I'll see that they get as far as the Ohio River as -fast as the train'll go. Here, six or eight of you men pick up these -boys and carry them over to my car there. Handle them as if they were -eggs, for they're my friends." - -There was no lack of willing hands to execute this order. That was long -before the days of private cars, even for railway magnates, but -Rosenbaum had impressed a caboose for himself, which he had had fitted -up with as many of the comforts of a home as were available at that era -of car-building. He had a good bed with a spring mattress for himself -and another for his friends, table, chairs, washroom and a fairly- -equipped kitchen, stored with provisions, for he was as fond of good -living as of sumptuous raiment. All this and more he was only too glad -to place at the disposal of the Deacon and the boys. The Deacon himself -was not more solicitous about their comfort. - -The train started as Levi had ordered, and sped along on a clear track -to Nashville. Cotton was needed at the North almost as much as rations -were needed at the front, and a train loaded with Treasury cotton had -superior rights to the track which must not be disregarded. At Nashville -a friend of Levi's, a Surgeon of generally recognized skill, and whom -Levi had telegraphed for, came aboard with a couple of skilled nurses, -who bathed the boys, dressed their wounds, and replaced their soiled, -torn clothes with new, clean ones, including fine, soft underwear from -Levi's own wardrobe. - -"Say, Doc," said Shorty, after this was finished and he had devoured a -supper cooked under Levi's special care, "I feel so much better that I -don't believe there's any need o' my goin on any further. I'll jest lay -by here, and go into Convalescent Camp for a few days, and then go back -to the front with a squad, and help clean up our cracker line. I'd like -awfully well to have a hand in runnin' them rebels offen Lookout -Mountain. They've bin too infernally impudent and sassy for any earthly -use." - -"Indeed you won't," said the Surgeon decisively. "You'll go straight -home, and stay there until you are well. You won't be fit for duty for -at least a month yet, if then. If you went out into camp now you would -have a relapse, and be dead inside of a week. The country between here -and Chattanooga is dotted with the graves of men who have been sent back -to the front too soon." - -The journey to Louisville was delightful. At Louisville Levi tried hard -to get his caboose taken across the river and attached to a train on the -other side, so that the boys could go clear home in it. But a Special -Treasury Agent had but little of the importance north of the Ohio River -that he had south of it. Still, Levi managed to get the crew of an -accommodation train interested in the boys, whom he had driven across -the river on a light wagon, lying on his spring mattress. They were -placed in a comfortable caboose, and soon were speeding on the last -stretch of the journey. - -The day was bright and sunny, and the boys were propped up, so that they -could look out of the windows and enjoy the scenery. That they were -nearing home made Si nervous and fidgety. It seemed to him that the -train only crawled, and stopped interminably at every station and -crossing. The Deacon became alarmed lest this should unfavorably affect -him, and resorted to various devices to divert his mind. He bought a -Cincinnati Gazette, and began reading it aloud. Si was deeply interested -in all the war news, particularly that relating to the situation at -Chattanooga, but he would not listen to the merits of Spalding's -Prepared Glue. - -The day wore away towards evening. - -"Ain't we most there, Pap?" Si asked querulously. - -"About 25 mile away, I think," answered his father. "I disremember just -how fur that last stop is from the Crick, but I think it's betwixt 25 -and 30 mile." - -Just then the whistle blew for a stop. - -"What'n the world are they stoppin' here for?" groaned Si. "Some woman's -got a dozen aigs or a pound o' butter that she wants to send to town. I -s'pose we'll stop here until she finishes churnin', or gits another aig -to make up a dozen. I never did see sich putterin' along." - -The Deacon was deeply absorbed in an editorial on "President Lincoln's -duty in this Crisis," and paid no attention. Shorty craned his long neck -out of the window. - -"Some gal's stopped the train to git on," he reported to Si. "She's -apparently been payin' a visit to a house up there a little ways, and -they've brung her down in a buggy with her trunk. She's dressed up fit -to kill, and she's purtier than a peach-blossom. Jehosephat, Si, I -believe she's the very same gal that you was castin' sheep's eyes at -when you was home. Yes, it is." - -"Annabel?" gasped Si. - -"What's that?" said the Deacon, rousing to interest, but carefully -putting his thumb down to mark the place where he left off. - -"Shorty thinks Annabel is out there gittin' on the train." - -"Eh," said the Deacon, shoving up his spectacles and taking a good look. -"It certainly is. She's been down here to see the Robinses, who live out -here somewhere. I'll jest go out and bring her in here." - - - - - -CHAPTER VI. THE BOYS IN THE OLD HOME ON BEAN BLOSSOM CREEK. - -THE Deacon had been afraid to telegraph directly to his wife that he was -bringing the boys home. He knew the deadly alarm that would seize mother -and daughters at the very sight of the yellow telegraph envelope -directed to them. They would interpret it to mean that Si was dead, and -probably in their grief fail to open the envelope and read the message. -So at Jeffersonville he sent a message to Sol Pringle, the agent and -operator at the station. The Deacon remembered the strain the former -message had been on the young operator's intelligence, besides he -himself was not used to writing messages, and so, regardless of expense, -he conveyed his thoughts to Sol in this wise: - -Deer Sol: put yore thinkin' cap on, and understand just what Ime sayin'. -I want you to send word out to the house at once that Ime comin' home -this evenin' on the accommodation train, and bringing the boys. Be -keerful and doant make a fool of yourself and skeer the wimmin fokes. - -Respectfully yores, Josiah Klegg. - -Sol had plenty of time to study that dispatch out, and he not only sent -word as desired, but he communicated the news to all who came to the -station. The result was there was quite a crowd of friends there to -greet the home-comers. - -The reception of the message had thrown the household into a flurry of -joyful expectancy. It was far better news than the Deacon's last letter -had led them to anticipate. After a few moments of tearful ejaculation -and mutual kissing over it, mother and daughters began to get everything -in readiness to give the returning ones the warmest, most cheerful -welcome. Abraham Lincoln was summoned in from his rail-splitting, which -he had been pursuing quite leisurely during the Deacon's absence, and -stirred to spasmodic energy under Maria's driving to cut an additional -supply of dry wood, and carry it into every room in the house, where -little Sammy Woggles, the orphan whom the Deacon and Mrs. Klegg were -bringing up, built cheer-shedding fires. Mrs. Klegg had her choicest -young chickens killed, and after she and Amanda had robbed every other -room of whatever they thought would add to the comfort of Si's, she set -herself to work preparing a supper which would outdo all her previous -efforts. - -Hours before the train was due Maria had Abraham Lincoln bring out the -spring-wagon and hitch the horses to it. Then he had to lay in a bed of -clean straw, and upon this was placed a soft feather bed, blankets and -pillows. Maria decided that she would drive to the station herself. - -"Never do in the world," said she, "to trust them skittish young horses, -what hain't done a lick o' work since Pap went away, to that stoopid -darky. They'd surely run away and break his neck, which 'd be no great -loss, and save lots o' provisions, but they'd smash that new wagon and -break their own necks, which are worth more'n $200 apiece." - -"Maria, how can you talk so?" said the gentle Mrs. Klegg reprovingly. -"It's a sin to speak so lightly o' death o' a feller-creature." - -"Well, if he's a feller-creature o' mine," returned the sprightly Maria, -"the Lord made a slack-twisted job of him some dark night out o' -remnants, and couldn't find no gumption to put in him. He gave him an -alligator's appetite instid. And ain't I tryin' to save his life? -Besides, I'm nearly dead to see Si. I want to be the first to see him." - -This aroused Amanda, but Maria stood on her rights as the elder sister, -had her way, as she usually did, and drove away triumphantly fully two -hours before train-time. - -Upon her arrival at the station she quickly recognized that she was the -central figure in the gathering crowd, and she would have been more than -a young woman if she had not made the most of her prominence. - -Other girls were there with their fathers and mothers who had brothers -who had been in the three months' service, or were now in three years -regiments, or who had been discharged on account of disability, or who -had been in this battle or that, but none of them a brother who had -distinguished himself in the terrible battle about which everybody was -now talking, who had helped capture a rebel flag, who had been wounded -almost to death, who had been reported dead, and who was now coming -home, a still living evidence of all this. No boy who had gone from Bean -Blossom Creek neighborhood had made the figure in the public eye that Si -had, and Maria was not the girl to hide the light of his achievements -under a bushel. She was genially fraternal with those girls who had -brothers still in the service, affable to those whose brothers had been -in, but were now, for any reason, out, but only distantly civil to those -whose brothers had not enlisted. Of these last was Arabella Widgeon, -whose father had been one of the earliest immigrants to the Wabash, and -was somewhat inclined to boast of his Old Virginia family. He owned a -larger farm than the Deacon's, and Arabella, who was a large, showy -girl, a year or two older than Maria, had been her schoolmate, and, -Maria thought, disposed to "put on airs" over her. Arabella's brother -Randolph was older than Si, but had chosen to continue his studies at -Indianapolis rather than engage in "a war to free the niggers." But -Arabella had developed an interest in the war since she had met some -engaging young gentlemen who had come through the neighborhood on -recruiting duty, and was keeping up a fitful correspondence with two or -three of them. - -"It must be very nice, Maria," said Arabella, with a show of cordiality, -but which Maria interpreted as an attempt to patronize, "to have your -brother back home with you again." - -"It certainly will be. Miss Widgeon," answered Maria, with strictly -"company manners." "One who has never had a brother exposed to the -constant dangers of army life can hardly understand how glad we all feel -to have Si snatched from the very jaws of death and brung back to us." - -"That's a little love-tap that'll settle several scores with Miss -Frills," Maria chuckled to herself. "Partickerly the airs she put on -over all us girls when she was running around to singing-school and -church with that Second Lieutenant, who ain't got across the Ohio River -yet, and I don't believe he intends to. Sol Pringle tells me all his -letters to her are postmarked Jeffersonville." - -Arabella took no seeming notice of the shot, but came back sweetly: - -"I am awfully glad that your brother was not hurt so badly as at first -reported. He couldn't be, and be able to come home now. These papers do -magnify everything so, and make no end of fuss over little things as -well as big ones, I was very much alarmed at first, for fear Si might be -really badly hurt." - -This was too much for Maria. Her company manners slid off like a drop of -water from a cabbage leaf, and she answered hotly: - -"I'd have you know. Miss Widgeon, the papers don't magnify the matter. -They don't make a fuss over nothing. They don't begin to tell all the -truth. None o' them can. My brother was nearer dead than any man who -ever lived. Nothing but the favor of God and Klegg grit pulled him -through. It'd killed a whole house full o' Randy Widgeons or that Second -Lieutenant. I remember Randy Widgeon turning pale and a'most fainting -when he run a fish-hook in his finger. If it ain't nothing, why don't -Randy Widgeon go down there a little while, with the rest o' the boys, -and do his share?" - -"My brother disbelieves in the constitutionality of this war, and denies -that we have any right to take away other people's slaves," said -Arabella loftily. "I s'pose he's a right to his opinions." - -"A poor excuse's better'n none," retorted Maria. "I noticed that he -didn't turn out last Summer to keep John Morgan from stealing our -people's horses, and robbing their stores and houses. S'pose he thought -it unconstitutional to let a nasty rebel gorilla shoot at him. It's very -convenient to have opinions to keep you from doin' things that you're -afraid to do." - -The dialog was approaching the volcanic stage, when a poorly-dressed, -sad-faced woman, with a babe in her arms, edged through the crowd to -Maria, and said timidly, for she had never been accounted by the Kleggs -as in their set: - -"Miss Maria, I don't s'pose you know me, but I do so want to git a -chance to speak to your pap as soon as he gets here, and before all -these people gits hold of him. Mebbe he's found out something about poor -Jim. I can't believe that Jim was killed, and I keep hopin' that he got -away somehow, and is in one o' them hospitals. Mebbe your pap knows. I -know you think Jim was bad and rough, but he was mighty good to me, and -he's all that I had. I'm nearly dead to hear about him, but I can't -write, nor kin Jim. I've bin tryin' to make up my mind to come over to -your house, and ax you to write for me." - -"Of course, you can, you poor, dear woman," said Maria, her mood -changing at once from fierceness to loving pity. "You shall be the first -one to speak to Pap and Si after me. Why didn't you come over to see us -long ago. We'd only bin too glad to see you, and do all we could for -you. Yes, I know you. - -"You're Polly Blagdon, and live down by the sawmill, where your husband -used to work. You look tired and weak carrying that big baby. Let me -hold him awhile and rest you. Sit down there on that box. I'll make Sol -Pringle clear it off for you." - -'arabella Curled Her Lip at Seeing Maria Take the Baby.' 87 - -Arabella curled her nose, at seeing Maria take the unwashed baby in her -arms, to the imminent danger of her best gown, but Maria did not notice -this, and was all loving attention to the baby and its mother. - -It seemed an age until the whistle of the locomotive was heard. The -engine had to stop to take water at the creek, several hundred yards -from the station, and Maria's impatience to see Si and be the first to -speak to him could not brook the delay. - -"Come along, Mrs. Blagdon," she called, and with the baby still in her -arms, she sped down the cinder track to the pumping station, and then -along the line of freight cars until she recognized her father's face -looking from the caboose, which was still beyond the bridge. She shouted -joyously at him. - -"Maria's out there, waitin' for us, and she's got a baby in her arms. -What do you suppose she thinks we want a baby for?" - -"'Spect she's been practicin' on it, so's to take care o' us, Si," said -Shorty. "I believe we've been more trouble to your father than we wuz to -our mothers when we wuz teethin'." - -"I've bin repaid for all, more'n repaid for all," said the Deacon; -"especially since I'm once more back home, and out o' the reach o' the -Sheriffs o' Tennessee. I'll stay away from Chattanoogy till after the -Grand Jury meets down there. If it does its dooty there'll be several -bills with Josiah Klegg's name entirely too conspicuous." - -"I want to be able to git out to the next covenant meetin', Pap," said -Si with a grin, "and hear you confess to the brethren and sisters all -that you've bin up to down at Chattanoogy." - -"Well, you won't git there," said the Deacon decisively. "We don't allow -nobody in there who hain't arrived at the years o' discreetion, which'll -keep you out for a long time yit." - -The train pulled over across the bridge, and handing the baby to its -mother, Maria sprang in, to recoil in astonishment at the sight of -Annabel's blushing face. - -"You mean thing," said Maria, "to steal a march on me this way, when I -wanted to be the first to see Si. Where in the world did you come from, -and how did you find out he was comin' home on this train? Si, you -didn't let her know before you did us, did you?" - -She was rent by the first spasm of womanly jealousy that any other woman -should come between her brother and his mother and sisters. - -"Don't be cross, Maria," pleaded Annabel. "I didn't know nothin' of it. -You know I've been down to see the Robinses, and intended to stay till -tomorrer, but something moved me to come home today, and I just happened -to take this train. I really didn't know. Yet," and the instinctive -rights of her womanhood and her future relations with Si asserted -themselves to her own wonderment, "I had what the preachers call an -inward promptin', which I felt it my dooty to obey, and I now think it -came from God. You know I ought to be with Si as soon as anybody," and -she hid her face in her hands in maidenly confusion. - -"Of course you ought, you dear thing," said Maria, her own womanhood -overcoming her momentary pique. "It was hateful o' me to speak that way -to you." - -And she kissed Annabel effusively, though a little deadness still -weighed at her heart over being supplanted, even by the girl she liked -best in all the world after her own sister. - -If the young folks had not been so engaged in their own affairs they -would have seen the Deacon furtively undoing his leathern pocket-book -and slipping a greenback into the weeping Mrs. Blagdon's hand, as the -only consolation he was able to give her. - -There were plenty of strong, willing hands to help carry Si from the -caboose to the wagon. It was strange how tender and gentle those strong, -rough farmers could be in handling a boy who had been stricken down in -defense of his country. Annabel's face was as red as a hollyhock over -the way that everybody assumed her right to be next to Si, and those who -could not get a chance at helping him helped her to a seat in the wagon -alongside of him, while the dethroned Maria took her place by her -father, as he gathered the reins in his sure hands and started home. -Maria had to expend some of the attentions she meant for Si upon Shorty, -who received them with awkward confusion. - -"Now, don't make no great shakes out o' me, Miss Maria," he pleaded. "I -didn't do nothin' partickler, I tell you. I was only along o' Si when he -snatched that rebel flag, and I got a little crack on the head, which -wouldn't 've amounted to nothin', if I hadn't ketched the fever at -Chattanoogy. I'm a'most well, and only come back home to please the -Surgeon, who was tired seein' me around." - -They found the house a blaze of light, shining kindly from the moment it -came in sight, and there was a welcome in Towser's bark which touched -Si's heart. - -"Even the dogs bark differently up here. Shorty," he said. "It's full -and honest, and don't mean no harm. You know that old Towser ain't -barkin' to signal some bushwhackers that the Yankees 's comin'. It -sounds like real music." - -It was Mrs. Klegg's turn to receive a shock when she rushed out to greet -her son, and found Annabel by his side. It went deeper to her heart than -it had to Maria's; but, then, she had more philosophy, and had foreseen -it longer. - -After everything had been done, after she had fed them her carefully- -prepared dishes, after the boys had been put to bed in the warmed room, -and she knew they were sleeping the sound sleep of deep fatigue, she -went to her own room to sit down and think it all over. There Maria -found her, wiping away her tears, and took her in her arms, and kissed -her. - -"It's right. It's all right. It's God's ways," said the mother. - -"A son's a son till he gets a wife; But a daughter's a daughter all her -life." - - - - - -CHAPTER VII. WEEKS OF CONVALESCENCE PLENTY OF NURSING FROM LOVING, -TENDER HANDS. - -WHAT days those were that followed the arrival of the boys home. In -Shorty's hard, rough life he had never so much as dreamed of such -immaculate housekeeping as Mrs. Klegg's. He had hardly been in speaking -distance of such women as Si's mother and sisters. To see these bright, -blithe, sweet-speeched women moving about the well-ordered house in busy -performance of their duties was a boundless revelation to him. It opened -up a world of which he had as little conception as of a fairy realm. For -the first time he began to understand things that Si had told him of his -home, yet it meant a hundredfold more to him than to Si, for Si had been -brought up in that home. Shorty began to regard the Deacon and Si as -superior beings, and to stand in such awe of Mrs. Klegg and the girls -that he became as tongue-tied as a bashful school-boy in their presence. -It amazed him to hear Si, when the girls would teaze him, speak to them -as sharply as brothers sometimes will, and just as if they were ordinary -mortals. - -"Si, you orter to be more careful in talkin' to your sisters," he -remonstrated when they were alone. - -"You've bin among rough men so long that you don't know how to talk to -real ladies." - -"O, come off," said Si, petulantly. "What's a-eatin you. You don't know -them girls as well as I do. Particularly Maria. She'll run right over -you if you let her. She's one o' the best girls that ever breathed, but -you've got to keep a tight rein on her. The feller that marries her's -got to keep the whip-hand or she'll make him wish that he'd never bin -born." - -Shorty's heart bounded at the thought of any man having the unspeakable -happiness of marrying that peerless creature, and then having the -meanness not to let her do precisely as she wanted to. - -Both the boys had been long enough in the field to make that plain farm -home seem a luxurious palace of rest. The beds were wonders of softness -and warmth, from which no unwelcome reveille or cross-grained Orderly- -Sergeant aroused them with profane threats of extra duty. - -Instead, after peeping cautiously through the door to see that they were -awake, the girls would come in with merry greeting, bowls of warm water, -and soft, white towels fragrant of the lawn. Maria would devote herself -to helping Shorty get ready for breakfast, and Amanda to Si. Shorty -trembled like a captured rabbit when Maria first began her -ministrations. All his blood rushed to his face, and he tried to mumble -something about being able to take care of himself, which that -straightforward young woman paid not the slightest attention to. After -his first fright was over there was a thrilling delight about the -operation which electrified him. - -When the boys were properly washed and combed, Mrs. Klegg, her kind, -motherly face beaming with consciousness of good and acceptable service, -would enter with a large tray, laden with fragrant coffee, delicious -cream, golden butter, her own peerless bread and bits of daintily- -broiled chicken. - -"Si," said Shorty, one morning after he had finished the best breakfast -he had ever known, the girls had gone away with the things, and he was -leaning back thinking it all over in measureless content, "if the -preachers'd preach that a feller'd go to such a place as this when he -died if he was real good, how good we'd all be, and we'd be rather -anxious to die. How in the world are we ever goin' to git up spunk -enough to leave this and go back to the field?" - -"You'll git tired o' this soon enough," said Si. "It's awful nice for a -change, but I don't want it to last long. I want to be able to git up -and git out. I hate awfully to have women-folks putterin' around me." - -The boys could not help rapidly recovering under such favorable -conditions, and soon they were able to sit up most of the day. In the -evening, ensconced in the big Shaker rocking chairs, sitting on pillows, -and carefully swathed in blankets, they would sit on either side of the -bright fire, with the family and neighbors forming the semi-circle -between, and talk over the war interminably. The neighbors all had sons -and brothers in the army, either in the 200th Ind. or elsewhere, and -were hungry for every detail of army news. They plied Si and Shorty with -questions until the boys' heads ached. Then the Deacon would help out -with his observations of camp-life. - -"I'm not goin' to believe," said one good old brother, who was an -exhorter in the Methodist Church, "that the army is sich a pitfall, sich -a snare to the feet o' the unwary as many try to make out. There's no -need of any man or boy who goes to serve his country and his God, -fallin' from grace and servin' the devil. Don't you think so, too. -Deacon? There's no reason why he shouldn't be jest as good a man there -as he is at home. Don't you think so, too. Deacon Klegg?" - -"Um—um-um," hemmed the Deacon, getting red in the face, and avoiding -answering the question by a vigorous stirring of the fire, while Si -slily winked at Shorty. "I impressed that on son Jed's mind when he -enlisted," continued the brother. "Jed was always a good, straight up- -and-down boy; never gave me or his mother a minute's uneasiness. I told -him to have no more to do with cards than with smallpox; to avoid liquor -as he would the bite of a rattlesnake; to take nothin' from other people -that he didn't pay full value for; that swearin' was a pollution to the -lips and the heart. I know that Jed hearkened to all that I said, and -that it sank into his heart, and that he'll come back, if it's God's -will that he shall come back, as good a boy as when he went away." - -Si and Shorty did not trust themselves to look at one another before the -trusting father's eyes, for Jedediah Bennett, who was one of the best -soldiers in Co. Q, had developed a skill at poker that put all the other -boys on their mettle; and as for foraging—well, neither Si nor Shorty -ever looked for anything in a part where Jed Bennett had been. - -"Deacon," persisted Mr. Bennett, "you saw a great deal o' the army. You -didn't see the wickedness down there that these Copperheads 's chargin', -did you? You only found men wicked that'd be wicked any place, and -really good men jest as good there as at home?" - -"It's jest as you say, Mr. Bennett," answered the Deacon, coughing to -gain time for a diplomatic answer, and turning so that the boys could -not see his face. "A wicked man's wicked anywhere, and he finds more -chance for his wickedness in the army. A good man ought to be good -wherever he's placed, but there are positions which are more tryin' than -others. By the way, Maria, bring us some apples and hickory nuts. Bring -in a basketful o' them Rome Beauties for Mr. Bennett to take home with -him. You recollect them trees that I budded with Rome Beauty scions that -I got up the river, don't you, Bennett? Well, they bore this year, and -I've bin calculatin' to send over some for you and Mrs. Bennett. I tell -you, they're beauties indeed. Big as your fist, red as a hollyhock, -fragrant as a rose, and firm and juicy. I have sent for scions enough to -bud half my orchard. I won't raise nothin' hereafter but Rome Beauties -and Russets." - -The apples and nuts were brought in, together with some of Mrs. Klegg's -famous crullers and a pitcher of sweet cider, and for awhile all were -engaged in discussing the delicious apples. To paraphrase Dr. Johnson, -God undoubtedly could make a better fruit than a Rome Beauty apple from -a young tree, growing in the right kind of soil, but undoubtedly He -never did. The very smell of the apple is a mild intoxication, and its -firm, juicy flesh has a delicacy of taste that the choicest vintages of -the Rhine cannot surpass. - -But Mr. Bennett was persistent on the subject of morality in the army. -He soon refused the offer of another apple, laid his knife back on the -plate, put the plate on the table, wiped his mouth and hands, and said: - -"Deacon, these brothers and sisters who have come here with me to-night -are, like myself, deeply interested in the moral condition of the army, -where we all have sons or kinsmen. Now, can't you sit right there and -tell us of your observations and experiences, as a Christian man and -father, from day to day, of every day that you were down there? Tell us -everything, just as it happened each day, that we may be able to judge -for ourselves." - -Si trembled a httle, for fear that they had his father cornered. But the -Deacon was equal to the emergency. - -"It's a'most too late, now, Mr. Bennett," he said, looking at the clock, -"for it's a long story. You know I was down there quite a spell. We -can't keep these boys out o' bed late now, and by the time we have -family worship it'll be high time for them to be tucked in. Won't you -read us a chapter o' the Bible and lead us in prayer, Brother Bennett?" - -While Shorty was rapidly gaining health and strength, his mind was ill -at ease. He had more time than ever to think of Jerusha Briggs, of Bad -Ax, Wis., and his surroundings accentuated those thoughts. He began by -wondering what sort of a girl she really was, compared to Si's sisters, -and whether she was used to such a home as this? Was she as handsome, as -fine, as high-spirited as Maria? Then his loyal soul reproached him. If -she would have him he would marry her, no matter who she she was. Why -should he begin now making comparisons with other girls? Then, she might -be far finer than Maria. How would he himself compare with her, when he -dared not even raise his eyes to Maria? - -He had not written her since the Tullahoma campaign. That seemed an age -away, so many things had happened in the meanwhile. - -He blamed himself for his neglect, and resolved to write at once, to -tell her where he was, what had happened to him, and that he was going -to try to visit her before returning to the field. But difficult as -writing had always been, it was incomparably more so now. He found that -where he thought of Jerusha once, he was thinking of Maria a hundred -times. Not that he would admit to himself there was any likeness in his -thoughts about the two girls. He did not recognize that there was -anything sentimental in those about Maria. She was simply some -infinitely bright, superior sort of a being, whose voice was sweeter -than a bird's, and whose presence seemed to brighten the room. He found -himself uncomfortable when she was out of sight. The company of Si or -his father was not as all-sufficient and interesting as it used to be. -When Maria went out of the room they became strangely dull and almost -tiresome, unless they talked of her. - -Worse yet. As he grew stronger and better able to take care of himself -Maria dropped the familiarity of the nurse, and began putting him on the -footing of a young gentleman and a guest of the house. She came no more -into the room with the basin of warm water, and got him ready for his -breakfast. She toned down carefully with every improvement in his -strength. First, she merely brought him the basin and towel, and then as -he grew able to go about she would rap on his door and tell him to come -out and get ready for breakfast. Shorty began to feel that he was losing -much by getting well, and that his convalescence had been entirely too -rapid. - -Then he would go off and try to compose his thoughts for a letter to -Jerusha Briggs, but before he knew it he would find himself in the -kitchen watching, with dumb admiration, Maria knead bread, with her -sleeves rolled to her shoulders, and her white, plump arms and bright -face streaked with flour. There would be little conversation, for Maria -would sing with a lark's voice, as she worked, some of the sweet old -hymns, chording with Amanda, busy in another part of the house. Shorty -did not want to talk. It was enough for him to feast his eyes and ears. - -They were sitting down to supper one evening when little Sammy Woggles -came in from the station. - -"There's your Cincinnati Gazette," he said, handing the paper to the -Deacon, "and there's a letter for Si." - -"Open it and read it, Maria," said Si, to whom reading of letters meant -labor, and he was yet too weak for work. - -"It's postmarked Chattanooga, Tenn.," said she, scanning the envelope -carefully, "and addressed to Sergeant Josiah Klegg, 200th Indiana -Volunteer Infantry, Bean Blossom Creek, Ind." - -"Sergeant!" ejaculated Si, Shorty and the Deacon, in the same breath. -"Are you sure it's Sergeant?" - -"Yes, it's Sergeant," said Maria, spelling the title out. "Who in the -world do you s'pose it's from, Si?" - -"It don't seem to occur to you that you could find out by openin' it," -said the Deacon, sarcastically. - -"Open it and see who it's from," said Si. - -"The man writes a mighty nice hand," said Maria, scanning the -superscription. "Just like that man that taught writing-school here last -Winter. It can't be from him, can it? Didn't s'pose there was anybody in -your company that could write as well as that. Look, Si, and see if you -can tell whose handwritin' it is." - -"O, open it, Maria," groaned Si, "and you'll likely find his name writ -somewhere inside." - -"Don't be so impatient. Si," said Maria, feeling around for a hair-pin -with which to rip open the envelope. "You're gittin' crosser'n two -sticks since you're gittin' well." - -"He certainly does write a nice hand," said Maria, scanning the -inclosure deliberately. "Just see how he makes his d's and s's. All his -up-strokes are light, and all his down ones are heavy, just as the -writing-master used to teach. And his curves are just lovely. And what a -funny name he has signed. J. T. No; I. T. No; that's a J, because it -comes down below the line. M-c-G-i-l-l—I can't make out the rest." - -"McGillicuddy; ain't that it?" said Si eagerly. "It's from Capt. -McGillicuddy. Read it, Maria." - -"McGillicuddy. Well, of all the names!" said that deliberate young -woman. "Do you really mean to say that any man has really such a name as -that?" - -"'Mandy, take that letter away from her and read it," commanded Si. - -"Well, I'm goin' to read your old letter for you, if you'll just gi' me -time," remonstrated Maria. "What are you in such a hurry for, old cross- -patch? Le' me see: - -"Headquarters, Co. Q, 200th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. "Chattanooga, -Tenn., Nov. 20, 1863. "Sergeant Josiah Klegg. - -"Dear Klegg: I have not heard from you since you left, but I am going to -hope that you are getting well right along. All the boys think of you -and Shorty, and send their love and their hopes that you will soon be -back with us. We all miss you very much. - -"I have some good news for you and Shorty. On my recommendation the -Colonel has issued a special order promoting you Sergeant and Shorty -Corporal, for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of -Chickamauga, in which you captured a rebel flag. The order was read on -parade this evening. So it is Sergeant Klegg and Corporal Elliott -hereafter, and they will be obeyed and respected accordingly. You will -take poor Pettibone's place, and Elliott will take Harney's. - -"I do not know where Elliott is, but expect that he is with you. If so, -give him the news, and also the inclosed letter, which came to me. If -not, and you know where he is, write him. - -"Write me as soon as you can. We are all getting along very well, -especially since Grant came up and opened our cracker line. My little -hurt is healing nicely, so that I can go about with a cane. We are all -getting ready to jump old Bragg on Mission Ridge, and I am going to do -my best to go along at the head of Co. Q, though I have been Acting -Major and Lieutenant-Colonel since I got up. - -"Regards to your father, and believe me, sincerely your friend, - -"J. T. MCGILLICUDDY, - -"Captain, Co. Q, 200th Ind. Inf. Vols." - -Maria passed the letter over to Si to read again, and without more ado -opened the inclosure. As she did so, a glance of recognition of the -handwriting flashed upon Shorty, and he started to take the letter from -her, but felt ashamed to do so. - -"Why, this is from a woman," said Maria, "and she writes an awful bad, -scratchy hand." Being a woman's letter she was bound to read it without -loss of time, and she did so: - -"Bad Ax, Wis., Nov. 10. - -"Capt. McGillicuddy. - -"Dear Sir: I believe you command the company, as they call it, in which -there was a gentleman named Mr. Elliott. The papers reports that he was -kild at thfe battle of Chickamaugy. I had some correspondence with him, -and I sent him my picture. - -Would you kindly write me the particklers of his death, and also what -was done with sich letters and other things that he had? I would very -much like to have you return me my letters and picture if you have them. -Send them by express to Miss Jerusha Briggs, at this plais, and I will -pay the charges. I will explain to you why I want them sent to a difrunt -naim than that which I sign. Upon learnin' of Mr. Elliott's deth I -excepted the addresses of Mr. Adams, whose wife passed away last summer. -You may think I was in a hurry, but widowers always mene bizniss when -they go a-courtin', as you will know if ever you was a widower, and he -had two little girls who needed a mother's care. My husband is inclined -to be jelous, as widowers usually are, and I don't want him to ever know -nothin' about my letters to Mr. Elliott, and him havin' my picture. I am -goin' to ask you to help me, as a gentleman and a Christian, and to keep -this confidential. - -"Very respectfully, - -"Mrs. Benj. F. Adams." - -They all listened eagerly to the reading of the letter, and when it was -finished looked for Shorty. But he had gone outside, where there was -more air. - -Shorty Went Outside Where There Was More Air. 101 - - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. SI IS PROMOTED ANNABEL APPRISED OF IT—SHORTY MEETS -JERUSHA. - -ANNABEL came in just as the reading of the letter was finished and her -arrival caused a commotion in the family, as it always did, which -momentarily distracted attention from the missive and Shorty's absence. -She and the mother and daughters had to exchange kisses and news about -the health of both families. Then she had to give a filial kiss to the -Deacon, who had already begun to assume paternal airs toward her, and -finally she got around to Si. Neither of them had yet got to the point -of "kissing before folks," and had to be content with furtive squeezing -of hands. Si's heart was aching to have Annabel read Capt. -McGillicuddy's letter, yet such was his shame-faced modesty that not for -the world would he have alluded to it before the family. If he had been -alone with her, he might have slipped the letter unopened into her hand, -with a shy request for her to read it, but so sternly was the Deacon and -his family set against anything like "vainglory" and "self-praise" that -he could not bring himself to mention that such a letter had been -received. At last, when full particulars had been given about the spread -of measles and whooping-cough, who was to preach and who to be baptized -at the coming quarterly meeting, Maria's active mind turned to things -nearer Si's heart, and she said: - -"O, Si's got sich a nice letter from his officer-boss, his Corporal, or -Colonel, or General, or whatever they call him—Mister—" - -"My Captain—Capt. McGillicuddy, Maria," said Si, reddening at Maria's -indifference to and ignorance of military titles. - -"Yes, Mr. McMillifuddy. Did you ever hear of such a ridiculous name?" - -"McGillicuddy—Capt. McGillicuddy, Maria. Why can't you get his name -right?" - -"Well, if I had sich a name as that I wouldn't expect people to git it -right. There's no sense in havin' a Dutch name that makes your tongue -crack like a whip. Well, this Mr. McFillemgoody is Si's boss, and he -writes a nice letter, and says Si done so well at Chickamaugy that some -other boss—a Colonel or Corporal—" - -"The Colonel, Maria. The Colonel commands the whole regiment. Won't you -never know the difference? A Colonel's much higher than a Corporal. You -girls never will learn nothin'." - -"Well, I never kin tell t'other from which," replied Maria, petulantly. -"And I don't have to. I don't care a hill o' beans whether a Corporal -bosses or a Colonel, or t'other way. Anyhow, Si's no longer a Corporal. -He's a Sargint." - -"O, Si," said Annabel, her big blue eyes filling with grief; "I'm so -sorry." - -"Why, Annabel," said Si, considerably abashed; "what's the matter? Don't -you understand. I'm promoted. Sergeant's higher than a Corporal." - -"Is it really?" said Annabel, whose tears were beginning to come. "It -don't sound like it. Sargint don't sound near so big as Corporal. I -always thought that Corporal was the very purtiest title in the whole -army. None o' the rest o' them big names sounded half so nice. Whenever -I saw Corporal in the papers I always thought of you." - -"Well, you must learn to like Sergeant just as well," said Si, fondly -squeezing her hand. "Maria, let her read the letter." - -"Well, Mr. Gillmacfuddy does seem like a real nice, sociable sort of a -man, in spite of his name," she commented, as she finished. "And I like -him, because he seems to be such a good friend o' yours. I s'pose him -and you board together, and eat at the same table when you are in the -army, don't you?" - -"O, no, we don't," said Si patiently, for her ignorance seemed -beautifully feminine, where Maria's was provoking. "You see, dear, he's -my Captain—commands about a hundred sich as me, and wears a sword and -shoulder-straps and other fine clothes, and orders me and the rest -around, and has his own tent, all by himself, and his servant to cook -for him, and we have to salute him, and do jest what he says, and not -talk back—at least, so he kin hear it, and jest lots o' things." - -"Then I don't like him a bit," pouted Annabel. "He's a horrid, stuck-up -thing, and puts on airs. And he hain't got no business to put on airs -over you. Nobody's got any right to put on airs over you, for you're as -good as anybody alive." - -Si saw that this task of making Annabel under stand the reason for -military rank was going to take some time, and could be better done when -they were by themselves, and he took her out by the kitchen-fire to make -the explanation. - -For the very first time in his whole life Shorty had run away from a -crisis. With his genuine love of fighting, he rather welcomed any -awkward situation in which men were concerned. It was a challenge to -him, and he would carry himself through with a mixture of brass, bravado -and downright hard fighting. But he would have much more willingly faced -the concentrated fire of all the batteries in Bragg's army than Maria's -eyes as she raised them from that letter; and as for the comments of her -sharp tongue—well, far rather give him Longstreet's demons charging out -of the woods onto Snodgrass Hill. He walked out into the barn, and -leaned against the fanning-mill to think it all over. His ears burned -with the imagination of what Maria was saying. He was very uncomfortable -over what the rest of the family were thinking and saying, particularly -the view that dear old Mrs. Klegg might take. With the Deacon and Si it -was wholly different. He knew that, manlike, they averaged him up, one -day with another, and gave him the proper balance to his credit. But -Maria—there everything turned to gall, and he hated the very name of Bad -Ax, the whole State of Wisconsin and everybody in it. He would never -dare go back into the house and face the family. What could he do? There -was only one thing—get back to his own home, the army, as soon as -possible. - -Little Sammy Woggles came out presently to get some wood. Shorty called -him to him. There was something fascinatingly mysterious in his tones -and actions to that youth, who devoured dime novels on the sly. - -"Sammy," said Shorty, "I'm goin' away, right off, and I don't want the -people in the house to know nothin' of it. I want you to help me." - -"You bet I will," responded the boy, with his eyes dancing. "Goin' to -run away? I'm goin to run away myself some day. I'm awful tired o' -havin' to git up in the mornin', wash my face and comb my hair, and do -the chores, and kneel down at family prayers, and go to Sunday, school, -and stay through church, and then have to spell out a chapter in the -Bible in the afternoon. I'm goin' to run away, and be a soldier, or go -out on the plains and kill Injuns. I'm layin' away things now for it. -See here?" - -And he conducted Shorty with much mystery to a place behind the haymow, -where he had secreted an old single-barreled pistol and a falseface. - -"You little brat," said Shorty, "git all them fool notions out o' your -head. This 's the best home you'll ever see, and you stay here just as -long as the Lord'll let you. You're playin' in high luck to be here. -Don't you ever leave, on no account." - -"Then why're you goin' to run away," asked the boy wonderingly. - -"That's my business. Something you can't understand, nohow. Now, I want -you to slip around there and git my overcoat and things and bring 'em -out to me, without nobody seein' you. Do it at once." - -'sammy,' Said Shorty, 'i'm Goin' Away Right Off, and I Don't Want the -People to Know Nothin' of It.' 113 - -While Sammy was gone for the things Shorty laboriously wrote out a note -to Si upon a sheet of brown paper. It read: - -"Deer Si; ive jest red in the papers that the army's goin' 2 move rite -off. i no tha need me bad in the kumpany, for tha are short on Korprils, -& tha can't do nothin' without Korprils. ive jest time 2 ketch the nekst -traine, & ime goin' thare ez fast ez steme kin carry me. Good-by & luv 2 -all the folks. - -"Yours, Shorty." - -"There, Sammy," he said, as he folded it up and gave it to the boy; -"keep that quiet until about bed time, when they begin to inquire about -me. By that time I'll 've ketched the train goin' east, and be skippin' -out for the army. By the way, Sammy, can't you sneak into Miss Maria's -room, and steal a piece o' ribbon, or something that belongs to her?" - -"I've got a big piece o' that new red Sunday dress o' her's," said -Sammy, going to his storehouse and producing it. "I cribbed it once, to -make me a flag or something, when I'd be out fightin' the Injuns. Will -that do you?" - -"Bully," said Shorty, with the first joyous emotion since the reception -of the letter. "It's jest the thing. Here's a half-dollar for you. Now, -Sammy, kin you write?" - -"They're makin' me learn, and that's one reason why I want to run away," -with a doleful remembrance of his own grievances. "What's the use of it, -I'd like to know? It cramps my fingers and makes my head ache. Simon -Kenton couldn't write his own name, but he killed more Injuns than ary -other man in the country. I guess you'd want to run away, too, if they -made you learn to write." - -"You little brat," said Shorty reprovingly; "you don't know what's good -for you. You do as they say, and learn to write as quick as you kin." -Then, in a softer tone: "Now, Sammy, I want you to promise to write me a -long letter—two sheets o' foolscap." - -"Why, I never writ so much in all my life," protested the boy. "It'd -take me a year." - -"Well, you've got to, now, and it mustn't take you two weeks. Here's a -dollar for you, and when I git the letter I'll send you home a real -rebel gun. Now, you're to cross your heart and promise on your sacred -word and honor that you'll keep this secret from everybody, not to tell -a word to nobody. You must tell me all about what they say about me, and -partickerlerly what Miss Maria says. Tell me everything you kin about -Miss Maria, and who goes with her." - -"What makes you like Maria better'n you do 'Mandy?" inquired the boy. "I -like 'Mandy lots the best. She's heap purtier, and lots more fun, and -don't boss me around like Maria does." - -"That's all you know about it, you little skeezics. She don't boss you -around half as much as she ought to." Then gentler: "Now, Sammy, do jest -as I say, and I'll send you home a real rebel gun jest as soon as I get -your letter." - -"A real gun, that'll be all my own, and will shoot and kick, and crack -loud?" - -"Yes, a genuine rebel gun, that you kin shoot crows with and celebrate -Christmas, and kill a dog." - -"Well, I'll write you a letter if it twists my fingers off," said the -boy joyously. - -"And you hope to be struck dead if you tell a word to anybody?" - -"Yes, indeedy," said the boy, crossing his heart earnestly. Shorty -folded up the piece of dress goods tenderly, placed it securely in the -breast-pocket of his blouse, and trudged over to the station, stopping -on the summit of the hill to take a last look at the house. It was a -long, hard walk for him, for he was yet far from strong, but he got -their before train time. - -It was the through train to St. Louis that he boarded, and the only -vacant seat that he could find was one partially filled with the -belongings of a couple sitting facing it, and very close together. They -had hold of one another's hands, and quite clearly were dressed better -than they were accustomed to. The man was approaching middle age, and -wore a shiny silk hat, a suit of broadcloth, with a satin vest, and a -heavy silver watch chain. His face was rather strong and hard, and -showed exposure to rough weather. The woman was not so much younger, was -tall and angular, rather uncomfortably conscious of her good clothes, -and had a firm, settled look about her mouth and eyes, which only -partially disappeared in response to the man's persistent endearments. -Still, she seemed more annoyed than he did at the seating of another -party in front of them, whose eyes would be upon them. The man lifted -the things to make room for Shorty, who commented to himself: - -"Should think they was bride and groom, if they wasn't so old." - -There was a vague hint that he had seen the face somewhere, but he -dismissed it, then settled himself, and, busy with his own thoughts, -pressed his face against the window, and tried to recognize through the -darkness the objects by which they were rushing. They were all deeply -interesting to him, for they were part of Maria's home and surroundings. -After awhile the man appeared temporarily tired of billing and cooing, -and thought conversation with some one else would give variety to the -trip. He opened their lunch-basket, took out something for himself and -his companion to eat, nudged Shorty, and offered him a generous handful. -Shorty promptly accepted, for he had the perennial hunger of -convalescence, and his supper had been interrupted. - -"Going back to the army?" inquired the man, with his mouth full of -chicken, and by way of opening up the conversation. - -"Um—huh," said Shorty, nodding assent. - -"Where do you belong?" - -"200th Injianny Volunteer Infantry." - -If Shorty had been noticing the woman he would have seen her start, but -would have attributed it to the lurching of the cars. She lost interest -in the chicken leg she was picking, and listened to the continuance of -the conversation. - -"I mean, what army do you belong to?" - -"Army o' the Cumberland, down at Chattanoogy." - -"Indeed; I might say that I belong to that army myself. I'm going down -that way, too. You see, my Congressman helped me get a contract for -furnishing the Army o' the Cumberland with bridge timber, and I'm going -down to Looeyville, and mebbe further, to see about it. We've just come -from St. Louis, where I've bin deliverin' some timber in rafts." - -"Where are you from?' - -"Bad Ax, Wisconsin, a little ways from La Crosse." - -It was Shorty's turn to start, and it flashed upon him just where he had -seen that squarish face. It was in an ambrotype that he carried in his -breastpocket. He almost choked on the merrythought of the chicken, but -recovered himself, and said quickly: - -"I have heard o' the place. Lived there long?" - -"Always, you might say. Father took me there as a child during the mine -excitement, growed up there, went into business, married, lost my wife, -and married again. We're now on what you might call our bridal tower. I -had to come down here on business, so I brung my wife along, and worked -it off on her as our bridal tower. Purty cute, don't you think?" - -And he reached over and tried to squeeze his wife's hand, but she -repulsed it. - -The bridegroom plied Shorty with questions as to the army for awhile -after they had finished eating, and then arose and remarked: - -"I'm goin' into the smokin'-car for a smoke. Won't you come along with -me, soldier, and have a cigar?" - -"No, thankee," answered Shorty. "I'd like to, awfully, but the doctor's -shut down on my smokin' till I git well." - -As soon as he was well on his way the woman leaned forward and asked -Shorty in an earnest tone: - -"Did you say that you belonged to the 200th Ind.?" - -"Yes'm," said Shorty very meekly. "To Co. Q." - -"The very same company," gasped the woman. - -"Did you happen to know a Mr. Daniel Elliott in that company?" - -"Very well, mum. Knowed him almost as well as if he was my own brother." - -"What sort of a man was he?" - -"Awful nice feller. I thought a heap of him. Thought more of him than -any other man in the company. A nicer man you never knowed. Didn't -drink, nor swear, nor play cards, nor chaw terbacker. Used to go to -church every Sunday. Chaplain thought a heap of him. Used to call him -his right bower—I mean his strong suit—I mean his two pair—ace high. No, -neither o' them's just the word the Chaplain used, but it was something -just as good, but more Bible-like." - -"I'm so glad to hear it," murmured the woman. - -"O, he was an ornament to the army," continued the unblushing Shorty, -who hadn't had a good opportunity to lie in all the weeks that the -Deacon had been with him, and wanted to exercise his old talent, to see -whether he had lost it. "And the handsomest man! There wasn't a finer- -looking man in the whole army. The Colonel used to get awfully jealous -o' him, because everybody that'd come into camp 'd mistake him for the -Colonel. He'd 'a' bin Colonel, too, if he'd only lived. But the poor -fellow broke his heart. He fell in love with a girl somewhere up -North—Pewter Hatchet, or some place like that. I never saw her, and -don't know nothin' about her, but I heard that the boys from her place -said that she was no match for him. She was only plain, ordinary- -lookin'." - -"That wasn't true," said the woman, under her breath. - -"All the same, Elliott was dead-stuck on her. Bimeby he heard some way -that some stay-at-home widower was settin' up to her, and she was -encouragin' him, and finally married him. When Elliott heard that he was -completely beside himself. He lost all appetite for everything but -whisky and the blood of widowers. Whenever he found a man who was a -widower he wanted to kill him. At Chickamauga, he'd pick out the men -that looked old enough to be widowers, and shoot at them, and no others. -In the last charge he got separated, and was by himself with a tall -rebel with a gray beard. 'I surrender,' said the rebel. 'Are you a -widower?' asked Elliott. 'I'm sorry to say that my wife's dead,' said -the rebel. 'Then you can't surrender. I'm goin' to kill you,' said -Elliott. But he'd bin throwed off his guard by too much talkin'. The -rebel got the drop on him, and killed him." - -"It ain't true that his girl went back on him before she heard he was -killed," said the woman angrily, forgetting herself. "She only married -after the report of his death in the papers." - -"Jerusha," said Shorty, pulling out the letters and picture, rising to -his feet, and assuming as well as he could in the rocking car the pose -and manner of the indignant lovers he had seen in melodramas, "I'm Dan -Elliott, and your own true love, whose heart you've broke. When I -learned of your faithlessness I sought death, but death went back on me. -I've come back from the grave to reproach you. You preferred the love of -a second-hand husband, with a silver watch-chain and a raft o' logs, to -that of an honest soldier who had no fortune but his patriotic heart and -his Springfield rifle. But I'll not be cruel to you. There are the -evidences of your faithlessness, that you was so anxious to git hold of. -Your secret's safe in this true heart. Take 'em and be happy with your -bridge-timber contractor. Be a lovin' wife to your warmed-over husband. -Be proud of his speculations on the needs o' his country. As for me, -I'll go agin to seek a soldier's grave, for I cannot forgit you." - -As he handed her the letters and picture he was dismayed to notice that -the piece of Maria's dress was mixed in with them. He snatched it away, -shoved it back in his pocket, pulled his hat down over his eyes, and, -with a melodramatic air, rushed forward into the smoking-car, where he -seated himself and at once fell asleep. - -He was awakened in the morning at Jeffersonville, by the provost-guard -shaking him and demanding his pass. - - - - - -CHAPTER IX. SHORTY IN TROUBLE HAS AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE PROVOST-MARSHAL. - -"I AINT got no pass," said Shorty, in response to the demand of the -Provost-Guard. "Bin home on sick-furlough. Goin' back to the front now. -Left my papers at home. Forgot 'em." - -"Heard all about lost and missing papers before," said the Sergeant -drily. "Fall in there, under guard." And he motioned Shorty to join the -gang of stragglers and runaways which had already been gathered up. - -"Look here. Sergeant," remonstrated Shorty, "I don't belong in that pack -o' shell-fever invalids, and I won't fall in with 'em. There's no yaller -or cotton in me. I'm straight goods, all wool, and indigodyed. I've bin -promoted Corpril in my company for good conduct at Chickamauga. I'm -goin' back to my regiment o' my own accord, before my time's up, and I -propose to go my own way. I won't go under guard." - -"You'll have to, if you can't show a pass," said the Sergeant -decisively. "If you're a soldier you know what orders are. Our orders -are to arrest every man that can't show a pass, and bring him up to -Provost Headquarters. Fall in there without any more words." - -"I tell you I'm not goin' back to the regiment under guard," said Shorty -resolutely. "I've no business to go back at all, now. My furlough ain't -up for two weeks more. I'm goin' back now of my own free will, and in my -own way. Go along with your old guard, and pick up them deadbeats and -sneaks, that don't want to go back at all. You'll have plenty o' work -with them, without pesterin' me." - -"And I tell you you must go," said the Sergeant, irritably, and turning -away, as if to end the discussion. "Williams, you and Young bring him -along." - -"I'll not go a step under guard, and you can't make me," answered Shorty -furiously, snatching up the heavy poker from the stove. "You lunkheaded, -feather-bed soldiers jest keep your distance, if you know what's good -for you. I didn't come back here from the front to be monkeyed with by a -passel o' fellers that wear white gloves and dresscoats, and eat soft -bread. Go off, and 'tend your own bizniss, and I'll 'tend to mine." - -The Sergeant turned back and looked at him attentively. - -"See here," he said, after a moment's pause. - -"Don't you belong to the 200th Ind.?" - -"You bet I do. Best regiment in the Army o' the Cumberland." - -"You're the feller they call Shorty, of Co. Q?" - -Shorty nodded assent. - -"I thought I'd seen you somewhere, the moment I laid eyes on you," said -the Sergeant in a friendly tone. "But I couldn't place you. You've -changed a good deal. You're thinner'n a fishing-rod." - -"Never had no meat to spare," acquiesced Shorty, "but I'm an Alderman -now to what I was six weeks ago. Got a welt on my head at Chickamaugy, -and then the camp fever at Chattanoogy, which run me down till I -could've crawled through a greased flute." - -"Well, I'm Jim Elkins. Used to belong to Co. A," replied the Sergeant. -"I recollect your stealing the caboose door down there at Murfreesboro. -Say, that was great. How that conductor ripped and swore when he found -his door was gone. I got an ax from you. You never knew who took it, did -you? Well, it was me. I wanted the ax, but I wanted still more to show -you that there was somebody in the camp just as slick on the forage as -you were. But I got paid for it. The blamed old ax glanced one day, -while I was chopping, and whacked me on the knee." - -"A thief always gits fetched up with," said Shorty, in a tone of -profound moralizing. "But since it had to go I'm glad one o' our own -boys got it. I snatched another and a better one that night from the -Ohio boys. I'm awful sorry you got hurt. Was it bad?" - -"Yes. The doctors thought I'd lose my leg, and discharged me. But I got -well, and as soon as they'd take me I re-enlisted. Wish I was back in -the old regiment, though. Say, you'll have to go to Headquarters with -me, because that's orders, but you just walk alongside o' me. I want to -talk to you about the boys." - -As they walked along, the Sergeant found an opportunity to say in low -tone, so that the rest could not hear: - -"Old Billings, who used to be Lieutenant-Colonel, is Provost-Marshal. -He's Lieutenant-Colonel of our regiment. He'll be likely to give you a -great song and dance, especially if he finds out that you belonged to -the old regiment. But don't let it sink too deep on you. I'll stand by -you, if there's anything I can do." - -"Much obliged," said Shorty, "but I'm all right, and I oughtn't to need -any standing by from anybody. That old fly-up-the-crick ought to be -ashamed to even speak to a man who's bin fightin' at the front, while he -was playin' off around home." - -"He'll have plenty to say all the same," returned the Sergeant. "He's -got one o' these self-acting mouths, with a perpetual-motion attachment. -He don't do anything but talk, and mostly bad. Blame him, it's his fault -that we're kept here, instead of being sent to the front, as we ought to -be. Wish somebody'd shoot him." - -The Provost-Marshal was found in his office, dealing out sentences like -a shoulder-strapped Rhadamanthes. It was a place that just suited -Billings's tastes. There he could bully to his heart's content, with no -chance for his victims getting back at him, and could make it very -uncomfortable for those who were disposed to sneer at his military -career. With a scowl on his brow, and a big chew of tobacco in his -mouth, he sat in his chair, and disposed of the cases brought before him -with abusive comments, and in the ways that he thought would give the -men the most pain and trouble. It was a manifestation of his power that -he gloated over. - -"Take the position of soldiers, you slouching clodhoppers," he said, -with an assortment of oaths, as the squad entered the office. "One'd -think you a passel o' hawbucks half-drunk at a log-rollin', instead o' -soldiers in the presence o' your superior officer. Shut them gapin' -mouths, lift up them shock-heads, button up your blouses, put your hands -down to your sides, and don't no man speak to me without salootin'. And -mind what you say, or I'll give you a spell on bread and water, and send -you back in irons. I want you to understand that I'll have no -foolishness. You can't monkey with me as you can with some officers. - -"Had your pocket picked, and your furlough as well as your money taken," -he sneered to the first statement. "You expect me to believe that, you -sickly-faced yallerhammer. I'll just give you five days' hard labor -before sending you back, for lying to me. Go over there to the left, and -take your place in that police squad." - -"No," he said to the second, "that sick mother racket won't work. Every -man we ketch now skulking home is goin' to see his sick and dying -mother. There wouldn't be no army if we allowed every man who has a sick -mother to go and visit her. None o' your back talk, or I'll put the -irons on you." - -"No," to a third, "you can't go back to your boarding place for your -things, not even with a guard. I know you. You'd give the guard the slip -before you went 10 rods. Let your things go. Probably you stole 'em, -anyway." - -Lieut.-Col. Billings's eye lighted on Shorty, with an expression of -having seen him somewhere. - -"Where do you belong?" he asked crossly. - -"Co. Q, 200th Injianny Volunteer Infantry," replied Shorty proudly. - -"Yes. I remember you now," said the Provost-Marshal savagely. "You're -one o' them infernal nigger-thieves that brung disgrace on the regiment. -You're one o' them that made it so notorious that decent men who had a -respect for other people's property was glad to get out of it." - -"You're a liar," said Shorty hotly. "You didn't git out o' the regiment -because it stole niggers. That's only a pretend. The rear is full o' -fellers like you who pretend to be sore on the nigger question, as an -excuse for not going to the front. You sneaked out o' every fight the -regiment went into. You got out of the regiment because it was too fond -of doin' its duty." - -"Shut up, you scoundrel! Buck-and-gag him, men," roared Billings, rising -and shaking his fist at him. - -"Stop that! You musn't talk that way," said the Sergeant, going over to -Shorty, and shaking him roughly, while he whispered, "Don't make a -blamed fool o' yourself. Keep quiet." - -"I won't stop," said Shorty angrily; "I won't let no man talk that way -about the 200th Ind., no matter if he wears as many leaves on his -shoulders as there is on a beech tree. I'd tell the Major-General that -he lied if he slandered the regiment, if I died for it the next minute." - -"I order you to take him out and buck-and-gag him," shouted the Provost- -Marshal. - -The Sergeant caught Shorty by the shoulder, and pushed him out of the -room, with much apparent roughness, but really using no more force than -would make a show, while muttering his adjurations to cool down. - -"I s'pose I've got to obey orders, and buck-and-gag you," said the -Sergeant ruefully, as they were alone together in the room. "It goes -against my grain, like the toothache. I'd rather you'd buck-and-gag me. -But you are to blame for it yourself. You ought to have more sense than -lay it into a Lieutenant-Colonel and Provost-Marshal that way. But you -did give it to him fine, the old blow-hard and whisky-sucker. He's no -more fit for shoulderstraps than a hog is for a paper-collar. Haven't -heard anything for a long time that tickled me so, even while I was mad -enough to pound you for having no more sense. I've bin aching to talk -that way to him myself." - -"Go ahead and obey your orders," said Shorty. "Don't mind me. I'm -willin' to take it. I've had my say, which was worth a whole week o' -buckin'. It 'll be something to tell the boys when I git back, that I -saw old Billings swellin' around, and told him right before his own men -just what we think of him. Lord, how it 'll tickle 'em. I'll forgit all -about the buckin', but they won't forgit that." - -"Blamed if I'll do it," said the Sergeant. "He can take off my stripes, -and be blest to him. You said just what I think, and what we all think, -and I ought to stand by you. I've a notion to go right back in the room -and tell him I won't do it, and pull off my stripes and hand 'em to him, -and tell him to take 'em and go to Halifax." - -"Now, don't be a fool, Jim," remonstrated Shorty. "You won't help me, -and you'll git yourself into trouble. Somebody's got to do it, and I'd -rather it'd be you than somebody else. Go ahead and obey your orders. -Git your rope and your stick and your bayonet." - -"They're all here," said the Sergeant, producing them, with a regretful -air. "We've plenty of use for them as long as old Billings is on deck. -Say," said he, stopping, as a brighter look came into his face, "I've -got an idea." - -"Hold on to it till you kin mark its ears, so's you'll know it again for -your property," said Shorty sarcastically. "Good idees are skeerce and -valuable." - -"Jeff Wilson, the General's Chief Clerk, who belongs to my company," -said the Sergeant, "told me yesterday that they wanted another Orderly, -and to pick out one for him. I'll send a note for him to detail you -right off." - -He hastily scratched off the following note on a piece of wrapping -paper, folded it up, and sent secretly one of his boys on a run with it: - -"Dear Jeff: Found you a first-class Orderly. It's Shorty, of my old -regiment. He's in Billings's clutches, and in trouble. Send down a -detail at once for Shorty Elliott, Co. Q, 200th Ind. Rush. Yours, Jim." - -"Here, Sergeant," called out the Provost-Marshal from the other room, -"what are you fooling around in there so long for?" - -"Somebody's been monkeying with my things," called back the Sergeant. -"If they don't let 'em alone I'll scalp somebody." - -"Well, get through, and come out here, for there's some more work for -you. Make a good job with that scoundrel. I'll be in presently and see -it." - -Shorty squatted down, and the Sergeant made as easy going an imitation -as he could of the punishment. - -The messenger encountered the young General near by, limping along on a -conscientious morning inspection of things about his post. He had been -but recently assigned to the position, to employ him while he was -getting well of his wound received at Chickamauga, and was making a -characteristic effort to know all about his command. He had sent his -staff on various errands, but had his Chief Clerk with him to make -notes. - -"What's that?" he inquired, as the messenger handed the latter the note. - -"Just a note from the Sergeant of the Guard about an Orderly," answered -the clerk. - -"Let me see it," said the General, who had an inveterate disposition for -looking into the smallest details. "What's this? One of the 200th Ind.? -Why, that was in my brigade. The 200th Ind. was cut all to pieces, but -it stuck to that Snodgrass Hill tighter than a real-estate mortgage. One -of the boys in trouble? We'll just go over to the Provost-Marshal's and -see about him. It may be that I know him." - -The sharp call of the Sergeant on duty outside to "Turn out the Guard -for the General," the clatter of muskets, as he was obeyed, the sudden -stiffening up of the men lounging about the entrance into the position -of the soldier, and their respectful salutes as the General limped in, -conveyed to Lieut.-Col. Billings intelligence as to his visitor, and his -whole demeanor changed to one of obsequious welcome. - -"Very unexpected, General, but very kind in you to visit me," he said, -bowing, and washing his hands with invisible soap. - -"No kindness at all. Colonel," said the General with official curtness. -"Merely my duty, to personally acquaint myself with all portions of my -command. I should have visited you before. By the way, I understand you -have picked up here a man belonging to my brigade—to the 200th Ind. -Where is he?" - -Billings's face clouded. - -"Yes, we have a man who claimed to belong to that regiment—a straggler, -who hadn't any papers to show. I had no idea whether he was telling the -truth. He was outrageously sassy, and I had to give him a lesson to keep -a civil tongue in his head. Take a seat. I'll send for him." - -"No; I'll go and see him," said the General. "Where is he?" - -With a foreboding that the scene was going to be made unpleasant for -him, Billings led the General into the guard-room. - -Why, It's Shorty! Said the General, Recognizing Him At Once 129 - -"Why, it's Shorty," said the General, recognizing him at once, "who ran -back at Stone River, in a heavy fire, and helped me from under my -horse." - -Shorty winked and nodded affirmatively. - -"What was the matter, Colonel?" inquired the General. - -"Well," said Billings, defensively, "the feller is a straggler, without -papers to show where he belonged, and he was very sassy to me—called me -a liar, and said other mean things, right before my men, and I had to -order him bucked-and-gagged to shut him up." - -"Strange," said General; "I always found him very respectful and -obedient. I thought I hadn't a better soldier in my brigade." - -Shorty winked appreciatively at Serg't Elkins. - -"Take out the gag, let him up, and let me hear what he has to say," said -the General. - -Shorty was undone and helped to his feet, when he respectfully saluted. -His weakness was so apparent that the General ordered him to sit down, -and then asked him questions which brought out his story. "You were -promoted Corporal, if I recollect," said he, "for gallantry in capturing -one of the rebel flags taken by my brigade." - -"Yes, sir," answered Shorty. - -Billings was feeling very uncomfortable. - -"He called me a liar, and a stay-at-home sneak, and other insultin' -things," protested he. - -"General, he slandered the 200 Ind., which I won't allow no man to do, -no matter what he has on his shoulders. I told him that he'd bin fired -out o' the regiment, and was a-bummin' in the rear, and hadn't no -business abusin' men who was doin' and respectful." - -"Hum—very insubordinate, very unsoldierly," said the General. "Very -unlike you. Corporal. I'm surprised at you. You were always very -obedient and respectful." - -"Always to real officers," said Shorty; "but—" - -"Silence," said the General, sternly. "Don't aggravate the offense. You -were properly punished." - -"I ain't kickin' about it," said Shorty stubbornly. "I've got the worth -of it." - -"I think," continued the General, after having properly vindicated -discipline, "that that blow you received on your head may affect your -brain at times, and make you unduly irritable. I think I'll have the -Surgeon examine you. Put him in an ambulance, Wilson, and take him over -to the Surgeon. Then bring him to Headquarters with the report." - -Turning to the Lieutenant-Colonel the General said: - -"I had another object in visiting you this morning. Colonel. I've got -some good news for you. I've found your officers and men very weary of -their long tour of provost duty here, and anxious to go to the front. Of -course, I know that you feel the same way." - -Billings tried to look as if he did, but the attempt was not a success. - -"I have represented to Headquarters, therefore," continued the General, -"that it would be to the advantage of the service to have this fine full -regiment sent to the front, and its place taken by one that has been run -down by hard service, and so get a chance for it to rest and recruit. -The General has accepted my views, and orders me to have you get ready -to move at once." - -"I have tried to do my dooty here, and I thought," murmured Billings, -"that it was to the advantage of the Government to have as Provost- -Marshal a man who knowed all these fellers and their tricks. It'd take a -new man a long time to learn 'em." - -"I appreciate that," said the General. "But it's not just to you or your -men to make you do so much of this work. I'm expecting every minute -notice of a regiment being sent to relieve yours, and therefore you will -be ready to start as soon as it arrives. Good morning, sir." - -The only relief that Billings could find to his feelings after the -General's departure was to kick one of the men's dog out of his office -with a great deal of vindictiveness. - - - - - -CHAPTER X. SHORTY AS ORDERLY HAS A TOUR OF DUTY AT THE GENERAL'S -HEADQUARTERS. - -"WELL," said the General, after he had listened to Shorty's story, and -questioned him a little, "you are all right now. I'll take care of you. -The Surgeon says that you are not fit to go back to the front, and will -not be for some time. They have got more sick and convalescents down -there now than they can take good care of. The army's gone into Winter -quarters, and will probably stay there until Spring opens, so that they -don't need either of us. I'll detail you as Orderly at these -Headquarters, and you can go back with me when I do." - -"I s'pose that's all right and satisfactory," said Shorty, saluting. -"It's got to be, anyway. In the army a man with a star on his shoulder's -got the last say, and kin move the previous question whenever he wants -to. I never had no hankerin' for a job around Headquarters, and now that -I'm a Korpril I ought to be with my company. But they need you worse'n -they do me, and I've noticed that you was always as near the front as -anybody, so I don't think I'll lose no chances by stayin' with you." - -"I promise you that we shall both go as soon as there's any prospect of -something worth going for," said the General, smiling. "Report there to -Wilson. He will instruct you as to your duties." - -Wilson's first instructions were as to Shorty's personal appearance. He -must get a clean shave and a hair-cut, a necktie, box of paper collars, -a pair of white gloves, have blouse neatly brushed and buttoned to his -throat and his shoes polished. - -"Dress parade every day?" asked Shorty, despairingly. - -"Just the same as dress parade every day," answered the Chief Clerk. -"Don't want any scarecrows around these Headquarters. We're on dress -parade all the time before the people and other soldiers, and must show -them how soldiers ought to appear. You'll find a barber-shop and a -bootblack around the corner. Make for them at once, and get yourself in -shape to represent Headquarters properly." - -"Don't know but I'd ruther go to the front and dig rifle-pits than to -wear paper collars and white gloves every day in the week," soliloquized -Shorty, as he walked out on the street. "Don't mind 'em on Sunday, when -you kin take 'em off agin when the company's dismissed from parade; but -to put 'em on in the mornin' when you git up, and wear 'em till you go -to bed at night—O, Jehosephat! Don't think I've got the constitution to -stand that sort o' thing. But it's orders, and I'll do it, even if it -gives me softenin' o' the brain. Here, you—(beckoning to a bootblack), -put a 250-pounder Monitor coat o' polish on them Tennessee River -gunboats. Fall in promptly, now." - -The little darky gave an estimating glance at the capacious cowhides, -which had not had a touch of the brush since being drawn from the -Quarter master, and then yelled to a companion on the other side of the -street: - -"Hey, Taters, come lend me a spit. I'se got a' army contrack." - -"Vhat golor off a gravat do you vant?" asked the Jewish vender of -haberdashery, who was rapidly amassing a fortune from the soldiers. -"Dere's plack, red, kreen, plue—all lofely golors, unt de vinest kint -off silk. Yoost de same as Cheneral Krant vears. He puys lods off me. -Von't puy off nopody else vhen he gan ket to me. Now, dere's vun dat'll -yoost suit your light gomplexion. You gan vear dat on St. Batrick's -day." - -And he picked out one of bright green that would have made Shorty's -throat seem in wild revolt against his hair. - -"Well, I don't know," said Shorty meditatively, pulling over the lot. -Then a thought struck him. Taking out the bit of Maria's dress, he said: - -"Give me something as near as possible the color of that." - -"Veil, I've kot rid off datt off-golored negdie, dat I fought I nefer -vould sell," meditated the Jew, as Shorty left. "I'm ahet yoost a -tollar-unt-a-haluf on aggount off dat vild Irishman's kirl. Veil, de -kirls ket some fellers into sgrapes, unt helps udders oud." - -With this philosophical observation the Jew resumed his pleasant work of -marking up his prices to better accord with his enlarged views as to the -profits he could get off the soldiers. - -When Shorty returned to Headquarters, neatly shaven and brushed, and -took the position of a soldier before the Chief Clerk, that functionary -remarked approvingly: - -"Very good, very good, indeed. You'll be an ornament to Headquarters." - -And the General, entering the room at that time, added: - -"Yes, you are as fine a looking soldier as one would wish to see, and an -examaple to others. But you have not your Corporal's chevrons on. Allow -me to present you with a pair. It gives me pleasure, for you have well -earned them." - -Stepping back into his office he returned with the chevrons in his hand. - -"There, find a tailor outside somewhere to sew them on. You are now a -non-commissioned officer on my staff, and I expect you to do all you can -to maintain its character and dignity." - -Shorty's face flushed with pride as he saluted, and thought, without -saying: - -"You jest bet I will. Any loafer that don't pay proper respect to this -here staff'll git his blamed neck broke." - -"Here," said the Chief Clerk, handing Shorty an official envelope, when -the latter returned from having his chevrons sewed on. "Take this down -to Col. Billings. Mind you do it in proper style. Don't get to sassing -old Billings. Stick the envelope in your belt, walk into the office, -take the position of a soldier, salute, and hand him the envelope, -saying, 'With the compliments of the General,' salute again, about-face, -and walk out." - -"I'll want to punch his rotten old head off the minute I set eyes on -him," remarked Shorty, sotto voce; "but the character and dignity of the -staff must be maintained." - -Lieut.-Col. Billings started, and his face flushed, when he saw Shorty -stalk in, severely erect and soldierly. Billings was too little of a -soldier to comprehend the situation. His first thought was that Shorty, -having been taken under the General's wing, had come back to triumph -over him, and he prepared himself with a volley of abuse to meet that of -his visitor. But Shorty, with stern eyes straight to the front, marched -up to him, saluted in one-two-three time, drew the envelope from his -belt, and thrusting it at him as he would his gun to the inspecting -officer on parade, announced in curtly official tones, "With General's -compliments, sir," saluted again, about-faced as if touched with a -spring, and marched stiffly toward the door. - -Billings hurriedly glanced at the papers, and saw that instead of some -unpleasant order from the General, which he had feared, they were merely -some routine matters. His bullying instinct at once reasserted itself: - -"Puttin' on a lot o' scollops, since, just because you're detailed at -Headquarters," he called out after Shorty. "More style than a blue- -ribbon horse at a county fair, just because the General took a little -notice of you. But you'll not last long. I know you." - -"Sir," said Shorty, facing about and stiffly saluting, "if you've got -any message for the General, I'll deliver it. If you hain't, keep your -head shet." - -"O, go on; go on, now, you two-for-a-cent Corporal. Don't you give me -any more o' your slack, or I'll report you for your impudence, and have -them stripes jerked offen you." - -'what Do You Think of That?' Said the Gambler. 141 - -Hot words sprang to Shorty's lips, but he remembered the General's -injunction about the character and dignity of the staff, and restrained -himself to merely saying: - -"Col. Billings, some day I won't belong to the staff, and you won't have -no shoulder-straps. Then I'll invite you to a little discussion, without -no moderator in the chair." - -"Go on, now. Don't you dare threaten me," shouted Billings. - -"How'd you get along with Billings?" inquired the Chief Clerk, when -Shorty returned. - -"About as well as the monkey and the parrot did," answered Shorty, and -he described the interview, ending with: - -"I never saw a man who was achin' for a good lickin' like that old -bluffer. And he'll git it jest as soon as he's out o' the service, if I -have to walk a hundred miles to give it to him." - -"I'm afraid you'll have to wait a good while," answered Wilson. "He'll -stay in the service as long as he can keep a good soft berth like this. -He's now bombarding everybody that's got any influence with telegrams to -use it to keep him here in the public interest. He claims that on -account of his familiarity with things here he is much more valuable to -the Government here than he would be in the field." - -"No doubt o' that," said Shorty. "He ain't worth a groan in the infernal -regions at the front. He only takes the place and eats the rations of -some man that might be of value." - -"See here," said Wilson, pointing to a pile of letters and telegrams on -his desk. "These are protests against Billings being superseded and sent -away. More are coming in all the time. They are worrying the General -like everything, for he wants to do the right thing. But I know that -they all come from a ring of fellows around here who sell whisky and -slop-shop goods to the soldiers, and skin them alive, and are protected -by Billings. They're whacking up with him, and they want him to stay. -I'm sure of it, but I haven't any proof, and there's no use saying -anything to the General unless I've got the proof to back it." - -"Wonder if I couldn't help git the proof," suggested Shorty, with his -sleuth instincts reviving. - -"Just the man," said the Chief Clerk eagerly, "if you go about it right. -You're a stranger here, and scarcely anybody knows that you belong to -Headquarters. Get yourself back in the shape you were this morning, and -go out and try your luck. It'll just be bully if we can down this old -blowhard." - -Shorty took off his belt and white gloves, unbuttoned his blouse, and -lounged down the street to the quarter where the soldiers most -congregated to be fleeced by the harpies gathered there as the best -place to catch men going to or returning from the front. Shorty soon -recognized running evil-looking shops, various kinds of games and -drinking dens several men who had infested the camps about Nashville and -Murfreesboro until the Provost-Marshal had driven them away. - -"Billings has gathered all his old friends about him," said he to -himself. "I guess I'll find somebody here that I kin use." - -"Hello, Injianny; what are you doin' here?" inquired a man in civilian -clothes, but unmistakably a gambler. - -Shorty remembered him at once as the man with whom he had had the -adventure with the loaded dice at Murfreesboro. With the fraternity of -the class, neither remembered that little misadventure against the -other. They had matched their wits for a wrestle, and when the grapple -was over it was over. - -Shorty therefore replied pleasantly: - -"O, jest loafin' back here, gittin' well o' a crack on the head and the -camp fever." - -"Into anything to put in the time?" - -"Naah," said Shorty weariedly. "Nearly dead for something. Awful stoopid -layin' around up there among them hayseeds, doin' nothin'. Jest run down -to Jeffersonville to see if I couldn't strike something that'd some life -in it." - -"Well, I kin let you into a good thing. I've bin runnin' that shebang -over there, with another man, and doin' well, but he let his temper git -away with him, and shpped a knife into a sucker, and they've got him in -jail, where he'll stay awhile. I must have another partner. Got any -money?" - -"A hundred or so," answered Shorty. - -"Well, that's enough. I don't want money so much as the right kind of a -man. Put up your stuff, and I'll let you in cahoots with me, and we'll -make a bar'l o' money out o' these new troops that'll begin coming down -this week." - -"I like the idee. But how do you know you kin run your game. This -Provost-Marshall—" - -"O, the Provost's all right. He's an old friend o' mine. I have him dead -to rights. Only whack up fair with him, and you're all right. Only -pinches them that want to hog on him and won't share. I've bin runnin' -right along here for weeks, and 've had no trouble. I give up my little -divvy whenever he asks for it." - -"If I was only certain o' that," said Shorty meditatively, "I'd—" - -"Certain? Come right over here to that ranch, and have a drink, and I'll -show you, so's you can't be mistaken. I tell you, I'm solid as a rock -with him." - -When seated at a quiet table, with their glasses in front of them, the -gambler pulled some papers from his breast pocket, and selecting one -shoved it at Shorty with the inquiry: "There, what do you think o' -that?" - -Shorty read over laboriously: - -"Deer Bat: Send me 50 please. I set behind two small pair last night, -while the other feller had a full, & Ime strapt this morning. Yores, - -"Billings." - -"That seems convincing," said Shorty. - -"Then look at this," said the gambler, producing another paper. It read: - -"Deer Bat: Got yore $100 all right, but doant send by that man again. -He's shaky, and talks too much. Bring it yourself, or put it in an -envelope directed to me, & drop it in my box. Yores, - -"Billings." - -"That's enough," said Shorty, with his mind in a tumult, as to how he -was to get these papers into his possession. "I'll go in with you, if -you'll take me. Here's my fist." - -He reached out and shook hands with Bat Meacham over the bargain, and -called to the waiter, "Here, fill 'em up agin." - -Shorty pulled some papers out of his pocket to search for his money, and -fumbled them over. There were two pieces among them resembling the -scraps on which Billings had written his notes. They contained some army -doggerel which the poet of Co. Q had written and Shorty was carrying -about as literary treasures. - -The waiter wiped off the table as he replaced the glasses, and Shorty -lifted up the gambler's papers to permit him to do so. He laid down his -own papers instead, and with them a $10 bill. - -"There," he said; "I find that's all the money I have with me, but it's -enough to bind the bargain. I left a couple hundred with the clerk at -the tavern. I'll go right up and git it, and we'll settle the thing -right here." - -"Very good," replied Bat Meacham; "git back as quick as you kin. You'll -find me either here or hangin' around near. Let's fix the thing up and -git ready. I think a new regiment'll be down here tomorrow, and all the -men'll have their first installment o' bounty and a month's pay." - -Shorty hurried back to Headquarters and laid his precious papers before -the Chief Clerk, who could not contain his exultation. - -"Won't there be a tornado when the General sees these in the morning," -he exclaimed. "He's gone out to camp, now, or I'd take them right to -him. But he shall have them first thing in the morning." - -The next morning Shorty waited with eager impatience while the General -was closeted with his Chief Clerk. Presently the General stepped to the -door and said sternly: - -"Corporal." - -"Yes, sir," said Shorty, springing to his feet and saluting. - -"Go down at once to the Provost-Marshal's office and tell Col. Billings -to come to Headquarters at once. To come at once, without a moment's -delay." - -"Yes, sir," said Shorty saluting, with a furtive wink at the Chief -Clerk, which said as plainly as words, "No presenting compliments this -time." - -He found Billings, all unconscious of the impending storm, dealing out -wrath on those who were hauled before him. - -"Col. Billings," said Shorty, standing stiff as a ramrod and curtly -saluting, "the General wants you to come to Headquarters at once." - -"Very well," replied Billings; "report to the General that I'll come as -soon as I dispose of this business." - -"That'll not do," said Shorty with stern imperiousness. "The General -orders (with a gloating emphasis on 'orders') you to drop everything -else, and come instantly. You're to go right back with me." - -Shorty enjoyed the manifest consternation in Billings's face as he heard -this summons. The men of the office pricked up their ears, and looked -meaningly at one another. Shorty saw it all, and stood as straight and -stern as if about to lead Billings to execution. - -Billings, with scowling face, picked up his hat, buttoned his coat, and -walked out. - -"Do you know what the General wants with me. Shorty?" he asked in a -conciliatory way, when they were alone together on the sidewalk. - -"My name's Corporal Elliott. You will address me as such," answered -Shorty. - -"Go to the devil," said Billings. - -Billings tried to assume a cheerfully-genial air as he entered the -General's office, but the grin faded at the sight of the General's stern -countenance. - -"Col. Billings," said the General, handing him the two pieces of paper, -"do you recognize these?" - -"Can't say that I do," answered Billings, pretending to examine them -while he could recover his wits sufficiently for a fine of defense. - -"Don't attempt to lie to me," said the General wrathfully, "or I'll -forget myself sufficiently to tear the straps from your disgraced -shoulders. I have compared these with other specimens of your -handwriting, until I have no doubt. I have sent for you not to hear your -defense, or to listen to any words from you. I want you to merely sit -down there and sign this resignation, and then get out of my office as -quickly as you can. I don't want to breathe the same air with you. I -ought to courtmartial you, and set you to hard work on the -fortifications, but I hate the scandal. I have already telegraphed to -Army Headquarters to accept your resignation by wire, and I shall send -it by telegraph. - -"I cannot get you out of the army too quickly. Sign this, and leave my -office, and take off your person every sign of your connection with the -army. I shall give orders that if you appear on the street with so much -as a military button on, it shall be torn off you." - -As the crushed Lieutenant-Colonel was leaving the office, Shorty lounged -up, and said: - -"See here. Mister Billings—you're Mister Billings now, and a mighty -ornery Mister, too, I'm going to lay for you, and settle several little -p'ints with you. You've bin breedin' a busted head, and I'm detailed to -give it to you. Git out, you hound." - - - - - -CHAPTER XI. SHORTY RUNS HEADQUARTERS GETS ENTIRELY TOO BIG FOR HIS -PLACE. - -THE disturbance in the Deacon's family when Shorty's note was delivered -by little Sammy Woggles quite came up to that romance-loving youth's -fond anticipations. If he could only hope that his own disappearance -would create a fraction of the sensation he would have run away the next -day. It would be such a glorious retribution on those who subjected him -to the daily tyranny of rising early in the morning, washing his face, -combing his hair, and going to school. For the first time in his life -the boy found himself the center of interest in the family. He knew -something that all the rest were intensely eager to know, and they plied -him with questions until his young brain whirled. He told them all that -he knew, except that which Shorty had enjoined upon him not to tell, and -repeated his story without variation when separately examined by -different members of the family. All his leisure for the next few days -was put in laboriously constructing, on large sheets of foolscap, the -following letter, in which the thumb-marks and blots were more -conspicuous than the "pot-hook" letters: - -dEER shoRty: - -doNt 4git thAt REblE guN u promist mE. - -thAir wAs An oRful time wheN i giv um yorE lEttEr. - -missis klEgg shE cride. - -mAriAr shE sEd did u EvEr No Ennything so Ridiklus. - -si hE sed thAt shorty kood be morE Kinds ov fool in A minnit thAn Ary -uthEr boy hE Ever node, Not bArrin Tompsons colt. - -thE deAcon hE wAntid 2 go 2 the tranE & stop u. When hE found hE -kooddEnt do that, hE wAntid 2 tElEgrAf 2 Arrest u & bring u bAk. - -But si hE sEd bEttEr let u run till u got tirEd. Ude fEtch up sum whAir -soon. Then thEy wood sHp a bridlE ovEr yore hEAd & brink u bAk. - -i hAint told mAriA nothin but u hAd bEtEr sEnd thAt gun rite off. - -ile look 4 it EvEry dAy til i git it. - -mi pen iz bAd, mi ink iz pAle, send thAt gun & NEVEr f ALE. - -YorEs, SAM. - -As soon as he saw that he was likely to remain at Headquarters for some -time. Shorty became anxious about that letter from Sammy, and after much -scheming and planning, he at last bethought himself of the expedient of -having the Chief Clerk write an official letter to Sam Elkins, the -postmaster and operator at Bean Blossom Creek Station, directing him to -forward to Headquarters any communications addressed to Corp'l Elliott, -200th Ind. Vols., and keep this matter a military secret. - -In spite of his prepossessions against it, Shorty took naturally to -Headquarters duty, as he did to everything else in the army. He even -took a pride in his personal appearance, and appeared every morning as -spick and span as the barber-shop around the corner could make him. This -was because the General saw and approved it, and—because of the -influence Maria had projected into his life. The Deacon's well-ordered -home had been a revelation to him of another world, of which he wanted -to be a part. The gentle quiet and the constant consideration for others -that reigned there smoothed off his rough corners and checked the -rasping of his ready tongue. - -"I'm goin' to try to be half-white," he mentally resolved; "at least, as -long's I'm north o' the Ohio River. When I'm back agin at the front, I -kin take a rest from being respectable." - -He was alert, prompt, and observant, and before he was himself aware of -it began running things about the ante-rooms to Headquarters. More and -more the General and Chief Clerk kept putting the entire disposal of -certain matters in his hands, and it was not surprising that he acted at -times as if he were the Headquarters himself, and the General and others -merely attaches. Shorty always had that way about him. - -"No, you can't see the General today," he would say to a man as to whom -he had heard the General or the Chief Clerk hint was a bore, and wasted -their time. "The General's very busy. The President's layin' down on him -for his advice about a campaign to take Richmond by a new way, and the -General's got to think at the rate of a mile a minute in order to git it -off by telegraph." - -Don't You Know Better Than to Come To Headquarters Like That? 156 - -"Here," to a couple of soldiers who came up to get their furloughs -extended, "don't you know better than to come to Headquarters looking as -if your clothes had been blowed on to you? How long've you bin in the -army? Hain't you learned yit that you must come to Headquarters in full -dress? Go back and git your shoes blacked, put on collars, button up -your coats, and come up here lookin' like soldiers, not teamsters on the -Tullyhomy mud march." - -"No," very decisively, to a big-waisted, dark-bearded man; "you can't -git no permit here to open no shebang in camp or anywheres near. Too -many like you out there now. We're goin' to root 'em all out soon. -They're all sellin' whisky on the sly, and every last one of 'em orter -be in jail." - -"Certainly, madam," tenderly to a poor woman who had come to see if she -could learn something of her son, last heard from as sick in hospital at -Chattanooga. "Sit down. Take that chair—no, that one; it's more -comfortable. Give me your son's name and regiment. I'll see if we kin -find out anything about him. No use seein' the General. I'll do jest as -well, and 'll tend to it quicker." - -"No," to a raw Captain, who strolled in, smoking a cheap cheroot. "The -General's not in to an officer who comes in here like as if Headquarters -was a ward caucus. He'll be in to you when you put on your sword and -button up your coat." - -It amused and pleased the General to see Shorty take into his hands the -administration of military etiquette; but one day, when he was -accompanying the General on a tour of inspection, and walking stiffly at -the regulation distance behind, a soldier drunk enough to be ugly -lurched past, muttering some sneers about "big shoulder-straps." - -Shorty instantly snatched him by the collar and straightened him up. - -"Take the position of a soldier," he commanded. - -The astonished man tried to obey. - -"Throw your chest out," commanded Shorty, punching him in the ribs. -"Little fingers down to the seams of your pants," with a cuff at his -ears. "Put your heels together, and turn out your toes," kicking him on -the shin. "Hold up your head," jabbing him under the chin. "'Now -respectfully salute." - -The cowed man clumsily obeyed. - -"Now, take that to learn you how to behave after this in the presence of -a General officer," concluded Shorty, giving him a blow in the face that -sent him over. - -The General had walked on, apparently without seeing what was going on. -But after they had passed out of the sight of the group which the affair -had gathered, he turned and said to Shorty: - -"Corporal, discipline must be enforced in the army, but don't you think -you were a little too summary and condign with that man?" - -"Hardly know what you mean by summary and condign. General, But if you -mean warm by summary, I'll say that he didn't git it half hot enough. If -I'd had my strength back I'd a' condigned his head off. But he got his -lesson jest when he needed it, and he'll be condigned sure to behave -decently hereafter." - -Just then ex-Lieut.-Col. Billings came by. He was dressed in citizen's -clothes, and he glared at Shorty and the General, but there was -something in the latter's face and carriage which dominated him in spite -of himself, his camp associations asserted themselves, and instinctively -his hand went to his hat in a salute. - -This was enough excuse for Shorty. He fell back until the General was -around the corner, out of sight, and then went up to Billings. - -"Mister Billings," said he, sternly, "what was the General's orders -about wearin' anything military?" - -"Outrageously tyrannical and despotic," answered Billings hotly. "But -jest what you might expect from these Abolition satraps, who're -throttlin' our liberties. A white man's no longer got any rights in this -country that these military upstarts is bound to respect. But I'm -obeyin' the order till I kin git an appeal from it." - -"You're a liar. You're not," said Shorty, savagely. - -"Why, what in the world have I got on that's military?" asked Billings, -looking himself over. - -"You're wearin' a military saloot, which you have no business to. You've -got no right to show that you ever was in the army, or so much as seen a -regiment. You salooted the General jest now. Don't you ever let me see -you do it to him agin, or to no other officer. You musn't do nothin' but -take off your hat and bow. You hear me?" - -Shorty was rubbing it in on his old tormentor in hopes to provoke him to -a fight. But the cowed man was too fearful of publicity just then. He -did not know what might be held in reserve to spring upon him. He -shambled away, muttering: - -"O, go on! Grind down upon me. You'll be wantin' to send me to a Lincoln -bastile next. But a day will come when white men'll have their rights -agin." - -Unfortunately for Shorty, however, he was having things too much his own -way. There were complaints that he was acting as if he owned -Headquarters. - -Even the General noticed it, and would occasionally say in tones of -gentle remonstrance: - -"See here, Corporal, you are carrying too big a load. Leave something -for the rest of us to do. We are getting bigger pay than you are, and -should have a chance to earn our money." - -But Shorty would not take the hint. With his rapidly-returning strength -there had come what Si termed "one of his bull-headed spells," which -inevitably led to a cataclysm, unless it could be worked off -legitimately, as it usually was at the front by a toilsome march, a tour -of hard fatigue duty, or a battle or skirmish. But the routine of -Headquarters duties left him too much chance to get "fat and sassy." - -One day the General and his staff had to go over to Louisville to attend -some great military function, and Shorty was left alone in charge of -Headquarters. There was nothing for him to do but hold a chair down, and -keep anybody from carrying off the Headquarters. This was a dangerous -condition, in his frame of mind. He began meditating how he could put in -the idle hours until the General should return in the evening. He -thought of hunting up Billngs, and giving him that promised thrashing, -but his recent experience did not promise hopefully that he could nag -that worthy into a fight that would be sufficiently interesting. - -"I'd probably hit him a welt and he'd go off bawlin' like a calf," he -communed with himself. "No; Billings is too tame, now, until he finds -out whether we've got anything on him to send him to the penitentiary, -where he orter go." - -Looking across the street he noticed Eph Click, whom he had known as a -camp-follower down in Tennessee, and was now running a "place" in the -unsavory part of the town. Shorty had the poorest opinion of Eph, but -the latter was a cunning rascal, who kept on the windy side of the law, -and had so far managed to escape the active notice of the Provost- -Marshal. He was now accompanied by a couple of men in brand-new -uniforms, so fresh that they still had the folds of the Quartermaster's -boxes. - -"There goes that unhung rascal, Eph Glick," he said to himself, "that -orter be wearin' a striped suit, and breakin' stone in the penitentiary. -He's runnin' a reg'lar dead-fall down the street, there, and he's got a -couple o' green recruits in tow, steerin' them to where he kin rob 'em -of their pay and bounty. They won't have a cent left in two hours. I've -bin achin' to bust him up for a long time, but I've never bin able to -git the p'ints on him that'd satisfy the General or the Provo. I'll jest -go down and clean out his shebang and run him out o' town, and finish -the job up while the General and the Provo's over in Louisville. It'll -all be cleaned up before they git back, and they needn't know a word of -it. Eph's got no friends around here to complain. He's a yaller hound, -that nobody cares what's done to him. It'll be good riddance o' bad -rubbish." - -He stalked out of the Headquarters, and beckoned imperiously to a squad -that he saw coming down the street under the command of a Sergeant. -Seeing him come out of Headquarters there was no question of his right -to order, and the Sergeant and squad followed. - -They arrived in front of Eph's place about the same time he did. - -"Take that man," said Shorty, pointing to Eph, "and put him aboard the -next train that goes out. Think yourself lucky, sir, that you git off so -easily. If you ever show your face back here agin you'll be put at hard -labor on the fortifications for the rest o' your natural life. Hustle -him off to the depot, a couple of you, and see that he goes off when the -train does. The rest o' you bring out all the liquor in that place, and -pour it into the gutter. Sergeant, see that nobody's allowed to drink or -carry any away." - -Nothing more was needed for the crowd that had followed up the squad, -anticipating a raid. Bottles, demijohns and kegs were smashed, the -cigars and tobacco snatched up, and the place thoroughly wrecked in a -few minutes. - -Shorty contemplated the ruin from across the street, and strolled back -to Headquarters, serenely conscious of having put in a part of the day -to good advantage. - -That evening the Provost-Marshal came into Headquarters, and said: - -"I'm sorry, General, that you felt that Click place so bad that you were -compelled to take personal action. I have known for some time that -something ought to be done, but I've been trying to collect evidence -that would hold Glick on a criminal charge, so that I could turn him -over to the civil authorities." - -"I do not understand what you mean, Colonel," answered the General. - -"I mean that Glick place that was raided by your orders today." - -"I gave no orders to raid any place. I have left all those matters in -your hands, Colonel, with entire confidence that you would do the right -thing." - -"Why, one of my Sergeants reported that a Corporal came from your -Headquarters, and directed the raid to be made." - -"A Corporal from my Headquarters?" repeated the General, beginning to -understand. "That's another development of that irrepressible Shorty." -And he called: - -"Corp'l Elliott." - -"Yes, sir," responded Shorty, appearing at the door and saluting. - -"Did you raid the establishment of a person named" - -"Eph Glick," supplied the Provost-Marshal. - -"Yes, Ephraim Glick. Did you direct it; and, if so, what authority had -you for doing so?" - -"Yes, sir," said Shorty promptly. "I done it on my own motion. It was a -little matter that needed tending to, and I didn't think it worth while -to trouble either you or the Provo about it. The feller's bin dead-ripe -for killin' a long time. I hadn't nothin' else to do, so I thought I'd -jest git that job offen my hands, and not to have to think about it any -more." - -"Corporal," said the General sternly, "I have not objected to your -running my office, for I probably need all the help in brains and -activity that I can get. But I must draw the line at your assuming the -duties of the Provost-Marshal in addition. He is quite capable of taking -care of his own office. You have too much talent for this narrow sphere. -Gen. Thomas needs you to help him run the army. Tell Wilson to make out -your transportation, so that you can start for your regiment tomorrow. -The Provost-Marshal and I will have to try to run this town without your -help. It will be hard work, I know; but, then, that is what we came into -the service for." - -Shorty grumbled to another Orderly as he returned to his place in the -next room: - -"There, you see all the thanks you git for bein' a hustler in the way of -doin' your dooty. I done a job for 'em that they should've 'tended to -long ago, and now they sit down on me for it." - - - - - -CHAPTER XII. SHORTY ON A HUNT GOES AFTER KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE. - -THAT evening, as Shorty was gathering his things together, preparatory -for starting to the front the next morning, Lieut. Bigelow, one of the -General's young Aids, thrust his head through the doorway and said -gleefully: - -"Here, Corporal; I want you. I've got a great lark. Our Secret Service -people report a bad lodge of the Knights of the Golden Circle out here -in the country that threatens to make trouble. It is made up of local -scalawags and runaway rebels from Kentucky and Tennessee. They have a -regular lodge-room in a log house out in the woods, which they have -fixed up into a regular fort, and they hold their meetings at nights, -with pickets thrown out, and no end of secrecy and mystery. The General -thinks that they are some of the old counterfeiting, horse-stealing gang -that infested the country, and are up to their old tricks. But it may be -that they are planning wrecking a train, burning bridges and the like. -They've got so bold that the Sheriff and civil officials are afraid of -them, and don't dare go near them. I've persuaded the General to let me -take out a squad and jump them. Want to go along?" - -"I'm your huckleberry," said Shorty. - -"I knew you'd be," answered the Lieutenant; "so I got the General to let -me have you. We'll get some 10 or 12 other good boys. That will be -enough. I understand that there are about 100 regular attendants at the -lodge, but they'll not all be there at any time, and a dozen of us can -easily handle what we find there at home." - -"A dozen'll be a great plenty," assented Shorty. "More'd be in the way." - -"Well, go out and pick up that many of the right kind of boys, bring -them here, and have them all ready by 10 o'clock. You can find guns and -ammunition for them in that room upstairs." - -Shorty's first thought was of his old friend, Bob Ramsey, Sergeant of -the Provost-Guard. He found him, and said: - -"See here, Bob, I've got something on hand better'n roundin' up -stragglers and squelchin' whisky rows. I've got to pick out some men for -a little raid, where there'll be a chance for a red-hot shindy. Want to -go along?" - -"You bet," answered the Sergeant. "How many men do you want? I'll get -'em and go right along." - -"No, you don't," answered Shorty. "I'm to be the non-commish of this -crowd. A Lieutenant'll go along for style, but I'll run the thing." - -"But you're only a Corporal, while I'm a Sergeant," protested Bob. -"'Taint natural that you should go ahead of me. Why can't you and I run -it together, you next to me? That's the correct thing." - -"Well, then," said Shorty, turning away, "you stay and run your old -Provo-Guard. This is my show, and I aint goin' to let nobody in it ahead -o' me." - -"Come, now, be reasonable," pleaded Bob. "Why can't you and I go along -together and run the thing? We'll pull together all right. You know I've -been a Sergeant for a long time, and know all about the handling of -men." - -"Well, stay here and handle 'em. I'll handle the men that I take, all -right. You kin gamble on that. And what I say to them has to go. Won't -have nobody along that outranks me." - -"Well," answered Bob, with a gulp, "let me go along, then, as a -Corporal—I'll change my blouse and borrow a Corporal's—" - -"Rankin' after me?" inquired Shorty. - -"Yes; we had a Corporal promoted day before yesterday. I'll borrow his -blouse." - -"Promoted day before yesterday," communed Shorty; "and you won't presume -to boss or command no more'n he would?" - -"Not a mite," asserted Bob. - -"Well, then, you kin come along, and I'll be mighty glad to have you, -for I know you're a standup feller and a good friend o' mine, and I -always want to oblige a friend by lettin' him have a share in any good -fight I have on hand." - -Jeff Wilson, the Chief Clerk, got wind of the expedition, and he too -begged to be taken along, to which Shorty consented. - -When Lieut. Bigelow came in at 10 o'clock he found Shorty at the head of -12 good men, all armed and equipped, and eager for the service. - -"In talking with the Secret Service men," explained the Lieutenant, -"they suggested that it would be well to have one good man, a stranger, -dressed in citizen's clothes—butternut jeans, if possible—to go ahead at -times and reconnoiter. He ought to be able to play off refugee rebel, if -possible." - -"I'll do it. I'm just the man," said Shorty eagerly. - -"Well, just come in here," said the Lieutenant. "Now, there's a lot of -butternut jeans. I guess there's a pair of pantaloons long enough for -you." - -When Shorty emerged from the room again there was a complete -transformation. Except that his hair was cut close, he was a perfect -reproduction of the tall, gaunt, slouching Tennesseean. - -"Perfect," said the Lieutenant, handing him a couple of heavy Remington -revolvers. "Stow these somewhere about your clothes, and get that -blacking off your shoes as soon as you can, and you'll do." - -It was planned that they should sleep until near morning, when the spies -of the Knights of the Golden Circle were not alert, enter a freight-car, -which they would keep tightly shut, to escape observation, while the -train ran all day toward a point within easy reach of their quarry. It -would arrive there after dark, and so they hoped to catch the Knights -entirely unawares, and in the full bloom of their audacity and pride. - -The car which the squad entered was locked and sealed, and labeled, -"Perishable freight. Do not delay." Their presence was kept secret from -all the train hands but the conductor, a man of known loyalty and -discretion. - -Shorty being in disguise, it was decided that he should saunter down -apart from the rest and take his place in the caboose. He lay down on -the long seat, drew his slouch-hat over his eyes, and seemed to go to -sleep. The train pulled out to the edge of the yard, went onto a switch -and waited for the early morning accommodation to pass out and get the -right-of-way. - -A heavily-built, middle-aged man, whose coarse face had evidently been -closely shaved a few days before, entered, carrying a large carpet-sack, -which was well-filled and seemingly quite heavy. He set this carefully -down on the seat, in the corner, walked up to the stove, warmed his -hands, glanced sharply at Shorty, said "Good morning," to which Shorty -replied with a snore, took a plug of tobacco from his pocket, from which -he cut a liberal chew with a long dirk that he opened by giving a -skillful flip with his wrist, put the chew in his mouth, released the -spring which held the blade in place, put both knife and tobacco in his -pocket, and turning around spread the tails of his seedy black frock -coat, and seemed lost in meditation as he warmed. - -"Not a farmer, storekeeper or stock-buyer," Shorty mentally sized him -up, "Looks more like a hickory lawyer, herb-doctor or tin-horn gambler. -What's he doin' in this caboose? Up to some devilment, no doubt. He'll -bear watchin'." - -And Shorty gave another snore. The man, having completed his warming, -sat down by his carpetsack, laid his arm across it to secure possession, -pulled his battered silk hat down over his eyes, and tried to go to -sleep. - -The train rumbled out, and presently stopped at another station. Another -man got on, also carrying a large, heavy carpet-sack. He was younger -than the other, looked like a farm-hand, was dressed partly in homespun, -partly in "store-clothes," wore a weather-stained wool hat, and his -sullen face terminated in a goatee. The first-comer looked him over an -instant, and then said: - -"Were you out late last night?" - -"I was," replied the second-comer, scanning his interrogator. - -"Did you see a star?" - -"I did." - -"What star was it?" - -"It was the Star of Bethlehem." - -"Right, my brother," responded the other, putting out his hand in a -peculiar way for the grip of the order. - -Shorty, still feigning deep sleep, pricked up his ears and drank in -every word. He had heard before of the greeting formula by which Knights -of the Golden Circle recognized one another, and he tried, with only -partial success, to see the grip. - -He saw the two men whisper together and tap their carpet-sacks -significantly. They seemed to come to a familiar understanding at once, -but they talked so low that Shorty could not catch their words, except -once when the first-comer raised his voice to penetrate the din as they -crossed a bridge, and did not lower it quickly enough after passing, and -Shorty heard; - -"They'll all be certain to be there tonight." - -And the other asked: "And the raid'll be made ter-morrer?" - -The first-comer replied with a nod. At the next bridge the same thing -occurred, and Shorty caught the words: - -"They've no idee. We'll ketch 'em clean offen their guard." - -"And the others'll come out?" asked the second-comer. - -"Certainly," said the first, lowering his voice again, but the look on -his face and the way he pointed indicated to Shorty that he was saying -that other lodges scattered through the neighborhood were only waiting -the striking of the first blow to rise in force and march on -Indianapolis, release the rebel prisoners there and carry havoc -generally. - -"I see through it all," Shorty communed with himself. "They're goin' to -the same place that we are, and've got them carpet-bags filled with -revolvers and cartridges. Somebody's goin' to have a little surprise -party before he's a day older." - -The sun had now gotten so high that Shorty could hardly pretend to sleep -longer. He gave a tremendous yawn and sat up. The older man regarded him -attentively, the other sullenly. - -"You must've bin out late last night, stranger," said the first. - -"I was," answered Shorty, giving him a meaning look. - -"Did you see a star?" inquired the older man. - -"I did," answered Shorty. - -"What star was it?" - -"The Star of Bethlehem," answered Shorty boldly. - -"'You're right, my brother," said the man, putting out his hand for the -grip. Shorty did the same, trying to imitate what he had seen. The car -was lurching, and the grasp was imperfect. The man seemed only half -satisfied. Shorty saw this, and with his customary impudence determined -to put the onus of recognition on the other side. He drew his hand back -as if disappointed, and turned a severe look upon the other man. - -"Where are you from?" asked the first-comer. Shorty curtly indicated the -other side of the Ohio by a nod. - -"Where are you goin'?" - -Shorty's face put on a severe look, as if his questioner was too -inquisitive. "Jest up here to 'tend to some bizness," he answered -briefly, and turned away as if to close the conversation. - -"Say, I've got a right to know something about you," said the first new- -comer. "I'm Captain of this District, and have general charge o' things -here, and men passin' through." - -"All right," answered Shorty. "Have general charge. I don't know you, -and I have bizness with men who roost a good deal higher'n you do." - -He put his hands to his breast, as if assuring himself of the presence -of important papers, and pulled out a little ways the official-looking -envelope which contained his transportation and passes. This had its -effect. The "Captain" weakened. "Are you from the Southern army?" he -asked in a tone of respect. - -"Before I answer any o' your questions," said Shorty authoritatively, -"prove to me who you are." "O, I kin do that quick enough," said the -"Captain" eagerly, displaying on his vest the silver star, which was the -badge of his rank, and his floridly printed commission and a badly- -thumb-marked copy of the ritual of the Knights of the Golden Circle. - -"So far, so good," said Shorty. "Now give me the grip." - -Shorty, by watching the motions of the other's hand, was skillful enough -to catch on to the grip this time, and get it exactly. He expressed -himself satisfied, and as the car lay on the siding waiting for another -train to arrive and pass he favored his two companions with one of his -finest fictions about his home in Tennessee, his service in the rebel -army, the number of Yankee Abolitionists he had slain with his own hand, -and his present mission with important communications to those "friends -of the South in Illinois" who were organizing a movement to stop the -bloody and brutal war upon his beloved Southland. - -His volubility excited that of the "Captain," who related how he had -been doing a prosperous business running a bar on a Lower Mississippi -River boat, until Abolition fanaticism brought on the war; that he had -then started a "grocery" in Jeffersonville, which the Provost-Marshal -had wickedly suppressed, and now he was joining with others of his -oppressed and patriotic fellow-citizens to stop the cruel and unnatural -struggle against their brethren of the South. - -"And we shall do it," he said warmly, bringing out the savage-looking -dirk, throwing it open with a deft movement of his wrist, and shaving -off a huge chew of tobacco. "We have a hundred thousand drilled and -armed men here in the State of Injianny, jest waitin' the word, to throw -off the shackles of tyranny and destroy the tyrants. - -"There's another hundred thousand in Illinois and like numbers in other -States. And they'll fight, too. They'll fight to the death, and every -one of them is good for' at least three of the usurper Lincoln's -minions. I'd like nothing better than to get a good opportunity at three -or four o' 'em, armed with nothin' more'n this knife. I'd like nothin' -better than the chance to sock it into their black hearts. 'Twouldn't be -the first time, nuther. The catfish around Jeffersonville could tell -some stories if they could talk, about the Lincoln hounds I've fed to -'em. I only want a good chance at 'em agin. I may go, but I'll take -several of 'em with me. I'll die in my tracks afore I'll stand this any -longer. I hate everything that wears blue worse'n I do a mad-dog." - -"And I promise you," said Shorty solemnly, "that you shall have all the -chance you want sooner'n you think for. I know a great deal more'n I -dare tell you now, but things is workin' to a head mighty fast, and -you'll hear something drop before the next change o' the moon. You kin -jest bet your shirt on that." - -The day was passing, and as the evening approached the train was running -through a wilder, heavily-wooded country. Shorty's companions took their -seats on the opposite side of the car and peered anxiously out of the -window to recognize features of the darkening landscape. They were -evidently getting near their destination. - -Shorty overheard the "Captain" say to his partner: - -"The train'll stop for water in the middle of a big beech woods. We'll -get off there and take a path that leads right to the lodge." - -"How far'll we have to tote these heavy carpetbags?" grumbled the other. - -Shorty slipped his hand into his pocket, grasped his revolvers and eased -them around so that he could be certain to draw them when he wanted to. -He was determined that those men should not leave the train before the -stopping place arranged for his fellow-soldiers. He felt confident of -being able to handle the two, but did not know how many confederates -might be in waiting for them. - -"I'll go it if there's a million of 'em," said he to himself. "I'll save -these two fellers anyway, if there's any good in 45-caliber bullets in -their carcasses. I'm jest achin' to put a half-ounce o' lead jest where -that old scoundrel hatches his devilment." - -The engine whistled long and shrilly. - -"That's the pumpin'-station," said the "Captain," rising and laying hold -of the handles of the carpetbag. - -"Drop that. You can't leave this car till I give the word," said Shorty, -rising as the train stopped, and putting himself in the door. - -"Can't, eh?" said the "Captain," with a look of rage as he comprehended -the situation. His dirk came out and opened with a wicked snap. "I'll -cut your black heart out, you infernal spy." - -'how Do You Like the Looks of That, Old Butternut 169 - -"You will, eh?" sneered Shorty, covering him with a heavy Remington. -"How'd you like the looks o' that, old butternut? Your murderin' dirk -aint deuce high. Move a step, and you'll know how it feels to have -daylight through you." - -The "Captain" smashed the window with a backward blow of his fist, -thrust his head out and yelled the rallying-cry of the Knights: - -"Asa! Asa!" - -The sound of rushing feet was heard, and a man armed with a shot-gun -came into the plane of light from the open caboose door. Shorty was on -the lookout for him, and as he appeared, shouted; - -"Halt, there! Drop that gun. If you move I'll kill this whelp here and -then you." - -"Do as he says, Stallins," groaned the frightened "Captain." "He's got -the drop on me. Drop your gun, but holler to the boys in the front car -to come out." - -To Shorty's amazement a score of men came rushing back from the car next -ahead of the caboose. They had, by a preconcerted arrangement, been -jumping on the train ever since it grew dark, and collected in that car. -Some of them had guns, but the most appeared unarmed. - -"Well, I have stirred up a yaller-jacket's nest for sure," thought -Shorty, rather tickled at the odds which were arrayed against him. "But -I believe I kin handle 'em until either the train pulls out or the boys -hear the ruction and come to my help." - -Then he called out sternly as he raised the revolver in his left hand: - -"I'll shoot the first man that attempts to come on this car, and I'll -kill your Captain, that I've got covered, dead. You man with that shot- -gun, p'int it straight up in the air or I'll drop you in your tracks. -Now fire off both barrels." - -It seemed to every man in the gang that Shorty's left-hand revolver was -pointing straight at him. The man with the shot-gun was more than -certain of this, and he at once complied with the order. - -There was a whistle, followed by a rush of men from a line further out, -and every man of those around Shorty was either knocked down or rudely -punched with a musket-barrel in the hands of Lieut. Bigelow's squad. - -"What in the world made you so long comin'?" asked Shorty, after all the -prisoners had been secured. "Was you asleep?" - -"No," answered the Lieutenant. "This is the place where we intended to -get off. We were quietly getting out so as to attract no notice when you -started your circus. I saw you were doing well, hiving those fellows -together, so I let you go ahead, while I slipped the boys around to -gather them all in. Pretty neat job for a starter, wasn't it?" - - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING BREAKING UP A DEN OF COPPERHEADS. - -"COME, hustle these prisoners back into the car in which we were," -commanded the Lieutenant. "We'll leave it on the switch with a guard. -Lock it up carefully, and one man'll be enough to guard it until we get -back. Make haste, for we've no time to lose. Shorty." - -"Corpril Elliott," Shorty corrected him, mindful of the presence of -Sergeant Bob Ramsey. - -"Yes; excuse me. Corporal Elliott, while we are attending to the -prisoners you go on ahead and reconnoiter. You need not stop unless you -see fit until you are clear into the lodge. Give one low whistle if you -want us to stop, two to come ahead and three to go back." - -It was a moonless night, and the broom-like tops of the close-growing -beeches made a dense darkness, into which Shorty plunged, but he could -readily make out a well-beaten path, which he followed. Occasionally he -could make out dark figures moving just ahead of him or crossing the -path. - -"Goin' to be a full attendance at the services this evenin'," he -muttered to himself. "But the more the merrier. It'll insure a goodly -number at the mourner's bench when we make the call for the -unconverted." - -Big and lumbering as Shorty sometimes seemed in his careless hours, no -wildcat gliding through the brush was more noiseless-footed than he now. -He kept on the darker side of the path, but not a twig seemed to crack -or a leaf rustle under his heavy brogans. Twice he heard lumbering steps -in his rear, and he slipped behind the big trunk of a tree, and saw the -men pass almost within arm's length, but without a suspicion of his -presence. - -"Well, for men workin' a dark-lantern job this is about the logiest -crowd I ever struck," he said rather disgustedly. "An elephant'd have to -step on 'em before they'd know he was around. They ain't hardly good -fun." - -Presently he heard some rustling over to his right and caught the low -murmur of a voice. He cautiously made his way in that direction until he -made an opening, with a number of men sitting on a log, while others -were standing, leaning on their guns. - -"Probably a caucus outside to set up the pins before goin' into the full -meetin'," he said to himself. "As I always like to be with the winnin' -side, I guess I'll jest jine 'em." - -He advanced boldly into the opening. At the sound of his approach the -men looked up, and one of those leaning on his gun picked it up and came -toward him. - -"You are out late," he whispered, when within speaking distance. - -"Yes," answered Shorty. "And I was out late last night." - -"Did you see a star?" - -"I did." - -"What star was it?" - -"It was the Star of Bethlehem." - -The first speaker had seemed to start at the sound of Shorty's voice, -but he recovered himself, and saying, "You're right, my brother," put -out his hand for the grip. - -"'Taint right, neither," hissed Shorty. "Si Klegg, what are you doin' -here?" - -"Shorty!" ejaculated Si, joyfully, but still in a whisper. "I thought I -knowed your voice. Where in the world did you come from?" - -"I'm here on business," answered Shorty. "I came up from Headquarters at -Jeffersonville. What brung you here?" - -"O," said Si, "we've bin hearin' about this Copperhead lodge for some -time, and some of us boys who's home on furlough thought that we'd come -down here with the Deputy Provo and bust it up. We've bin plannin' it a -week or two. All these that you see, there are soldiers. I've 15, -includin' myself." - -The boys hastily conferred together as to the plan of operations, and -one man was hurried back to inform Lieut. Bigelow of the presence of the -other squad. - -"You seem to know most about this affair. Shorty," said Si. "You take -command and make arrangements." - -"Not for a minute. Si," protested Shorty. "You rank me and you must -command, and I want you to hold your own over Bob Ramsey, who will try -to rank you. Bob's a good boy, but he's rather too much stuck on his -stripes." - -It was finally arranged that Si should move his squad out to near the -edge of the path and wait for Lieut. Bigelow to come up, while Shorty -should go forward and reconnoiter. - -Shorty walked along the path toward the lodge. Suddenly the large figure -of a man loomed up before him, standing motionless, on guard, in the -road. - -"You are out late, my friend," said he. - -"Yes," answered Shorty. - -"Did you see a star?" - -"Yes." - -"What was it?" - -"The Star of Bethlehem." - -"You are right, my brother," said the man, extending his hand for the -grip. - -"This rotten star-and-brother rigmarole's making me sick," muttered -Shorty, with a hasty glance to see that the man was alone, and grasping -his hand with a grip of iron, while with his left he clutched the -sentry's throat. Before the man could utter a groan he wrenched him -around and started him back for Si. Arriving there he flung him under -the trees, saying in a loud whisper: - -"First sucker o' this Spring's run. String him. Si." - -Lieut. Bigelow had come up in the meanwhile with the other squad, and -they all moved cautiously forward to where they could get a dim sight of -the lodge through the intervals between the trees. For a log house it -was quite a large building, and stood in the center of a small clearing -which had been made to furnish logs for its erection. Faint gleams of -light came through the badly-chinked walls, and the hum of voices showed -that there was a large crowd gathered inside. - -"There's likely to be from 100 to 150 in there," said the Lieutenant, -after a moment's consideration. "We've got 27 or 28. We'll jump them, -though, if they're a thousand. Corporal Elliott, you go forward and make -your way inside, if you can, and see what they are doing. If you can get -inside, stay 10 or 15 minutes, and come out and report. If you can't get -out, or you think they are ripe for jumping, whistle, and we'll pile in. -Sergeant Klegg, you hold your squad together and move down as near the -door as you can without being seen and be ready for a rush. Find a rail -or a log to smash the door in if they try to hold it against us. -Sergeant Ramsey, deploy your men quietly around to the rear there to cut -off retreat, but be ready to rally again and help Sergeant Klegg out if -he strikes a big snag. You make the circuit of the house and post -yourself where you can see what's going on, and signal your men. -Everybody keep under the shadow of the trees and make no noise. Go on to -the house, Corporal." - -Shorty left the cover of the trees and walked directly toward the front -door. No one appeared or halted him until he pushed the front door open. -Then a man who seemed more intent on what was going on inside than the -new arrival, bent his head over to catch the farrago about the star, and -put out his hand for the grip. - -"Come on in, but don't make a noise," he whispered. "They're givin' the -obligation, and I want to hear it." - -Shorty stood beside him for a moment, and then watched his opportunity, -and pressed by him, to where he could see into the room. It was entirely -dark except for the light of a single candle, shaded so that its rays -fell upon a rude altar in the center of the room, draped with a rebel -flag. Upon this lay a naked sword, skull and cross-bones. Behind the -altar stood a masked man, draped in a long shroud, who was mouthing in a -sepulchral tone the obligation to several men kneeling in front of the -altar. The dim light faintly revealed other masked and shrouded figures -stationed at various places about the room and looming above the seated -audience. - -"You solemnly swear," droned the chief actor, "to resist to the death -every attempt to place the nigger above the white man and destroy the -Government of our fathers." - -"We do," responded those kneeling at the altar. - -"Let it be so recorded," said a sepulchral voice from the other -extremity of the room. A gong sounded dismally and a glare of lurid red -light filled the room. - -"Regler Sons o' Malty biziniss, like I seen in St. Looyey," commented -Shorty to himself. "Masks, shrouds, red fire and gong, all the same. But -where've I heard that croakin' voice before?" - -"You solemnly promise and swear," resumed the sepulchral tones of the -chief actor, "to do all in your power to restore the Constitution and -laws of this country to what were established by the fathers and resist -the efforts of nigger-loving Abolitionists and evil-minded fanatics to -subvert them." - -"We do," responded the kneeling men. - -Again the grewsome gong sounded, the red fire glared forth and the -hollow voice announced that it was so recorded. - -"I'll bet six bits to a picayune," said Shorty to himself, "that I know -the rooster who's doin' them high priest antics. Where'd I hear his -voice before?" - -"And, finally, brethren," resumed the chief actor, "do you solemnly -promise and swear to cheerfully obey all orders given you by officers -regularly appointed over you according to the rules and regulations of -this great order and military discipline?" - -There was a little hesitation about this, but the kneeling ones were -nudged and whispered to, and finally responded: - -"We do." - -Again it was funereally announced to the accompaniment of flashes of red -fire and the gong that it was duly recorded. - -"Great Jehosephat, if it ain't old Billings himself that's doin' that -heavy tragedy act," said Shorty, slapping himself on the thigh. "The old -dregs o' the bottomless pit! Is there any deviltry that he won't git -into?" - -His decision was confirmed a minute or two later, when, after some more -fanfarronade the initiation ended, the officers removed their masks and -shrouds, and the candles in the sconces around the room were relighted. -Billings took his seat on the platform at the end of the room farthest -from the door, picked up the gavel and rapped for order. - -"Now, brethren," said he, "having witnessed the solemn initiation of -several brave, true men into our rapidly-swelling ranks and welcomed -them as real patriots who have united with us to resist to the bitter -end the cruel tyrannies of the Abolition despot at Washington—the vulgar -railsplitter of the Sangamon, who is filling this once happy land with -the graves of his victims, we will proceed to the regular business for -which we have assembled. I regret that our gallant Captain has not yet -arrived with the supply of arms and ammunition that he went to -Jeffersonville to secure. I thought I heard the whistle of the train -some time ago, and have been expecting him every minute. He may be here -yet." - -"Not if that guard at the switch 'tends to his little business, he -won't," Shorty chuckled to himself. - -"When he gets here," continued Billings, "we shall have enough weapons -to finish our outfit, and give every member, including them initiated -tonight, a good, serviceable arm, as effective as any in the hands of -our enemies. We shall then be in shape to carry out the several projects -which we have before discussed and planned. We shall be ready to strike -at any moment. When we do strike success is sure. The Southern armies, -which have so long bravely battled for the Constitution and the laws and -white men's rights, are again advancing from every point. Every mail -brings me glad good news of the organization of our brave friends -throughout this State and Illinois. They're impatient to begin. The -first shot fired will be the signal for an uprising that'll sweep over -the land like a prairie fire and—" - -He stopped abruptly, contracted his brows, and gazed fixedly at Shorty. - -"Brother Walker," said Billings, "there's a tall man settin' close by -the door that I seem to've seen before, and yit I don't exactly -recognize. Please hold that candle nigh his face till I can see it more -plainly." - -Shorty happened to be looking at another man that minute, and did not at -first catch the drift of Billings's remarks. When he did, he hesitated -an instant whether to whistle or try to get out. Before he could decide, -Eph Glick, whom he had raided at Jeffersonville, struck him a heavy blow -on the side of his head and yelled: - -"He's a traitor! He's a spy! Kill the infernal, egg-suckin' hound!" - -There was a rush of infuriated men, which carried Shorty over and made -him the object of a storm of blows and kicks. So many piled on him at -once that they struck and kicked one another in their confusion. The -door was torn out, and its pieces fell with the tumble of cursing, -striking, kicking men that rolled outside. - -Si rushed forward with his squad, and in an instant they were knocking -right and left with their gun-barrels. So many fell on top of Shorty -that he was unable to rise and extricate himself. - -Not exactly comprehending what was going on, but thinking that the time -for them to act had come, the four boys to whom Si had given the duty of -making the rush with the log to break down the door, came bolting up, -shouting to their comrades: - -"Open out, there, for us." - -'the Prisoners Had Too Much Solicitude About Their Garments to Think of -Anything Else.' 185 - -Their battering-ram cleaned off the rest of those still pommeling -Shorty, and drove back those who were swarming in the door. - -Shorty sprang up and gave a rib-breaking kick to the prostrate Eph -Glick. - -The crowd inside at first recoiled at the sight of the soldiers, but, -frightened for his own safety, Billings shouted, as he sheltered himself -behind the altar: - -"Don't give way, men. There's only a few o' them. Draw your revolvers -and shoot down the scum. Drive 'em away." - -A score of shots were fired in obedience, but Si, making his voice ring -above the noise, called out: - -"Stop that firing, or I'll kill every man in the house. If there's -another shot fired we'll open on you and keep it up till you're every -one dead. Surrender at once!" - -"Go at 'em with the bayonet, Si," yelled Shorty. "I'm goin' around to -ketch old Billings. He's in there, and'll try to sneak out the back -way." - -As Shorty ran around the corner he came face-to-face with a stalwart -Irishman, one of the pluckiest of the squad brought from Jeffersonville. -His face was drawn and white with fright, and he fumbled at his beads. - -"O, Corpril," he said, with chattering teeth, "Oi've jist sane the very -divil himself, so Oi have. Oi started to run up t' the house whin the -ruction begun, when suddintly the ground opened up at me very fate, an' -out kim a ghost, tin fate hoigh, wid oyes av foire, and brathing flames, -an' he shtarted for me, an' oi—" - -"What damned nonsense is this, O'Brien?" asked Shorty angrily. "Are you -drunk, or jest naturally addled? Come along with me and we'll—" - -"Not for a thousand loives," groaned the Irishman. "Howly saints, fwhat -is old Clootie after me for? Is it for atin' that little taste o' ham -last Friday? Holy Mary, save me; there he is again!" - -"Where, you flannel-mouthed Mick?" asked Shorty savagely. "Where do you -see the devil?" - -"There! There! That white thing. Don't you say it yersilf?" groaned the -Irishman, dropping on his knees, and calling on all the saints. - -"That white thing. That's only a sycamore stump, you superstitious bog- -trotter," said Shorty, with angry contempt, as he bent his eyes on the -white object. Then he added in the next breath: - -"But blamed if that stump ain't walkin' off. Funny stump." - -He gave a leap forward for closer investigation. At the crash of his -footsteps the stump actually turned around and gave a sepulchral groan. -Then, seeing that it was not a soldier pursuing, a very natural human -voice proceeded from it. - -"Is that you, Brother Welch? I thought at first it was a soldier. I -motioned you when the trouble first begun to follow me through the -underground passage. There was enough others there to make the fight, -and it'd never do for us to be taken by the Lincolnites. We're too -valuable to the cause just now, and, then, if the Lincolnites get hold -of me they'll certainly make me a martyr. Come right over this way. We -kin strike a path near here that'll take us right out." - -"Great Jehosephat," said Shorty, "if it ain't old Billings, masqueradin' -in his Sons o' Malty rig." - -He made another leap or two, clapped his hand on Billings's shoulder, -and shoved the muzzle of his revolver against the mask and demanded: - -"Halt and surrender, you barrel-headed, splayfooted son of a sardine. -Come along with me, or I'll blow that whole earthquake rig offen you." - -Shorty marched his prisoner back to the house, and as he neared it saw -by the light of a fire O'Brien, who had apparently recovered from his -fright, for he was having a lively bout with a large young fellow who -was trying to make his escape. It seemed an even thing for a minute or -two, but the Irishman finally downed his antagonist by a heavy blow with -his massive fist. - -"Here, O'Brien," said Shorty, "I've ketched your devil and brung him -back to you. When a boss shies at anything the best way's to lead him -square up to it and let him smell it. So I want you to take charge o' -this prisoner and hold him safe till the scrimmage is over." - -O'Brien looked at the figure with rage and disgust. He gave Billings a -savage clout with his open hand, saying: - -"Ye imp o' the divil—ye unblest scab of an odmahoun. Oi'll brake ivery -bone av yer body for goin' around by noights in thim wake-duds, scaring -daysint folks out av their siven sinses." - -The fighting had been quite a severe tussle for the soldiers. There had -not been much shooting, but a great deal of clubbing with gun-barrels -and sticks, which left a good many bloody heads and aching arms and -shoulders. About half of those in the meeting had succeeded in getting -away, but this still left some 75 prisoners in the hands of Lieut. -Bigelow, and he was delighted with his success. - -It was decided to hold all the prisoners in the lodge until morning, and -two of the boys who had gotten pretty badly banged about the head were -sent back to the railroad to relieve and assist the guard left there. - -"I find about 10 or 15 birds in the flock," said the Deputy Provost, who -was also Deputy Sheriff, when they looked over the prisoners in the -morning, "that we have warrants and complaints for, for everything from -plain assault and battery to horse-stealing. It would save the military -much trouble and serve the ends of justice better if we could send them -over to the County seat and put them in jail, where the civil -authorities could get a whack at them. I'd go there myself if I could -walk, but this bullet in my shin disables me." - -"I'd like to do it," answered Lieut. Bigelow, "but I haven't the guard -to spare. So many of my men got disabled that I won't have more than -enough to guard the cars on the way back and keep these whelps from -jumping the train or being rescued by their friends when we stop at the -stations. The news of this affair is all over the country by this time, -and their friends will all be out." - -"How fur is it to the County seat?" asked Shorty. - -"About 15 miles," answered the Deputy Provost. - -"Me and Si Klegg'll march 'em over there, and obligate ourselves not to -lose a rooster of 'em," said Shorty. - -"That'll be a pretty big contract," said the Lieutenant doubtfully. - -"All right. We're big enough for it. We'll take every one of 'em in if -we have to haul some of 'em feet foremost in a wagon." - -"It'll be a great help in many ways," considered Lieut. Bigelow. "The -crowd'll be looking for us at the stations and not think of these -others. Those are two very solid men, and will do just what they -promise. I think I'll let them try it. It would be well for you to tell -those men that any monkey business with them will be unhealthy. They'd -better trust to getting away from the grand jury than from them." - -But as the Deputy Provost went over them more carefully he found more -that were "wanted" by the civil authorities, and presently had selected -25 very evil-looking fellows, whose arrest would have been justified on -general appearances. - -"Haint we bit off more'n we kin chaw. Shorty?" asked Si, as he looked -over the increasing gang. "Hadn't we better ask for some help?" - -"Not a bit of it," answered Shorty, confidently. "That'll look like -weakenin' to the Lieutenant and the Provo. We kin manage this gang, or -we'll leave 'em dead in the brush." - -"All right," assented Si, who had as little taste as his partner for -seeming to weaken. "Here goes for a fight or a foot-race." - -While the Deputy was making out a list of the men and writing a note to -the Sheriff, Shorty went through the gang and searched each man for -arms. Then he took out his knife and carefully cut the suspender buttons -from every one of their pantaloons. - -"Now we've got 'em, Si," he said gleefully, as he returned to his -partner's side, with his hand full of buttons. "They'll have to use both -hands to hold their britches on, so they kin neither run nor fight. -They'll be as peaceable as lambs." - -"Shorty," said Si, in tones of fervent admiration, "I wuz afeared that -crack you got on your head softened your brains. But now I see it made -you brighter'n ever. You'll be wearin' a General's stars before this war -is over." - -"Bob Ramsey was a-blowin' about knowin' how to handle men," answered -Shorty. "I'm just goin' to bring him over here and show him this trick -that he never dreamed of." - -After he had gloated over Sergeant Ramsey, Shorty got his men into the -road ready to start. Si placed himself in front of the squad and -deliberately loaded his musket in their sight. Shorty took his place in -the rear, and gave out: - -"Now, you roosters, you see I've two revolvers, and I'm a dead shot with -either hand. I'm good for 12 of you at the first jump and my partner kin -'tend to the rest. Now, if I see a man so much as make a motion toward -the side o' the road I'll drop him. Give the command. Sergeant Klegg." - -"Forward—march!" ordered Si. - -It was as Shorty predicted. The prisoners had entirely too much -solicitude about their garments to think of anything else, and the march -was made without incident. Late in the afternoon they reached the County -seat, and marched directly for the public square, in which the jail was -situated. There were a few people on the streets, who gathered on the -sidewalks to watch the queer procession. Shorty, with both hands on his -revolvers, had his eyes fixed on the squad, apprehensive of an attempt -to bolt and mix with the crowd. He looked neither to the right nor the -left, but was conscious that they were passing a corner on which stood -some ladies. Then he heard a voice which set his heart to throbbing call -out: - -"Hello, Si Klegg! Si Klegg! Look this way. Where'd you come from?" - -"Great Jehosephat! Maria!" said Shorty to himself. But he dared not take -his eyes a moment from the squad to look toward her. - - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. GUARDING THE KNIGHTS SI AND SHORTY STAND OFF A MOB AT THE -JAIL. - -HAVING seen their prisoners safely behind the bars, Si and Shorty -breathed more freely than they had since starting out in the morning, -and Si remarked, as he folded up the receipt for them and placed it in -his pocket-book: - -"That drove's safely marketed, without the loss of a runaway or a -played-out. Purty good job o' drovin', that. Pap couldn't do better'n -that with his hogs. I'm hungrier'n a wolf. So must you be, Shorty. Le's -hunt up Maria, and she'll take us where we kin git a square meal. Then -we kin talk. I've got a hundred questions I want to ask you, but ain't -goin' to do it on an empty gizzard. Come on." - -Shorty had dropped on to a bench, and fixed his eyes on the stone wall -opposite, as if desperately striving to read there some hint of -extrication from his perplexities. The thought of encountering Maria's -bright eyes, and seeing there even more than her sharp tongue would -express, numbed his heart. - -"Yit, how kin I git away from Si, now?" he murmured to himself. "And yit -I'm so dead hungry to see her again that I'd be willin' to be a'most -skinned alive to do it. Was ever anybody else so big a fool about a -girl? I've plagued other fellers, and now I've got it worse'n anybody -else. It's a judgment on me. But, then, nobody else ever seen such a -girl as that. There's some sense in bein' a fool about her." - -"Come on, Shorty," called Si from the door. "What are you dreamin' on? -Are you too tired to move? Come on. We'll have a good wash, that'll take -away some of the tiredness, then a big dinner, and a good bed tonight. -Tomorrer mornin' we'll be as good as new." - -"I think I'd better git right on the next train and go back to -Jeffersonvillie," murmured Shorty, faintly struggling with himself. -"They may need me there." - -"Nonsense!" answered Si. "We've done enough for one day. I've bin up for -two nights now, and am goin' to have a rest. Let some o' the other -fellers have a show for their money. We haint got to fight this whole -war all by ourselves." - -"No, Si," said Shorty, summoning all his resolution; "I'm goin' back on -the next train. I must git back to the company. They'll—" - -"You'll do nothin' o' the kind," said Si impatiently. "What's eatin' -you? What'd you skip out from our house for? What'd you mean—" - -He was broken in upon by Maria's voice as she came in at the head of a -bevy of other girls: - -"Si Klegg, ain't you ever comin' out? What's akeepin' you? We're tired -waitin' for you, and w're comin' right in. What're you doin' to them -ragamuffins that you've bin gatherin' up? Tryin' to patch 'em up into -decent-lookin' men? Think it'll be like mendin' a brush-fence—makin' bad -worse. Where on earth did you gather up sich a gang o' scare-crows? I -wouldn't waste my days and nights pickin' up sich runts as them. When I -go manhuntin' I'll gether something that's worth while." - -Every bright sally of Maria was punctuated with shrieks of laughter from -the girls accompanying her. Led by her, they swarmed into the dull, bare -room, filling it with the brightness of their youthful presence, their -laughter, and their chirruping comments on everything they saw. The jail -was a place of deep mystery to them, and it was a daring lark for them -to venture in even to the outside rooms. - -"The girls dared me to bring 'em in," Maria explained to Si, "and I -never won't take no dare from anyone. Si, ain't you goin' to kiss your -sister? You don't act a bit glad to see me. Now, if it was Annabel—" - -"Why, Maria," said Si, kissing her to stop her mouth, "I wasn't -expectin' to see you. What in the world are you doin' over here?" - -"Why, your Cousin Marthy, here, is goin' to be married Thursday to her -beau, who's got 10 days' leave to come home for that purpose. The -thing's bin hurried up, because he got afeared. He heard that Marthy was -flyin' around to singin' school and sociables with some other fellers -that's home on furlough. So he just brung things to a head, and I rushed -over here to help Marthy git ready, and stand by her in the tryin' hour. -Why, here's Mr. Corporil Elliott, that I hain't spoken to yit. Well, Mr. -Skip-and-away, how d' you do? Girls, come up here and see a man who -thought mother's cookin' was not good enough for him. He got homesick -for army rations, and run off without so much as sayin' good-by, to git -somethin' to eat that he'd really enjoy." - -Her merry laugh filled the room, and rang even into the dark cells -inside. Shorty shambled to his feet, pulled off his hat, and stood with -downcast eyes and burning face. He had never encountered anything so -beautiful and so terrifying. - -Maria was certainly fair to look upon. A buxom, rosy-cheeked lass, -something above the average hight of girls, and showing the Klegg blood -in her broad chest and heavy, full curves. She was dressed in the -hollyhock fashion of country girls of those days, with an exuberance of -bright colors, but which Shorty thought the hight of refined fashion. He -actually trembled at what the next words would be from those full, red -lips, that never seemed to open except in raillery and mocking. - -"Well, ain't you goin' to shake hands with me? What are you mad about?" - -"Mad? Me mad? What in the world've I to be mad about?" thought Shorty, -as he changed his hat to his left hand, and put forth shamedly a huge -paw, garnished with red hair and the dust of the march. It seemed so -unfit to be touched by her white, plump hand. She gave him a hearty -grasp, which reassured him a little, for there was nothing in it, at -least, of the derision which seemed to ring in every note of her voice -and laughter. - -"Girls," she called, "come up and be introduced. This is Mr. Corpril -Elliott, Si's best friend and partner. I call him Mr. Fly-by-night, -because he got his dander up about something or nothin', and skipped out -one night without so much's sayin'—" - -"O, Maria, come off. Cheese it. Dry up," said Si impatiently. "Take us -somewhere where we kin git somethin' to eat. Your tongue's hung in the -middle, and when you start to talkin' you forgit everything else. I'm -hungrier'n a bear, and so's Shorty." - -An impulse of anger flamed up in Shorty's heart. How dared Si speak that -way to such a peerless creature? How could he talk to her as if she were -some ordinary girl? - -"O, of course, you're hungry," Maria answered. "Never knowed you when -you wasn't. You're worse'n a Shanghai chicken—eat all day and be hungry -at night. But I expect you are really hungry this time. Come on. We'll -go right up to Cousin Marthy's. I sent word that you was in town, and -they're gittin' ready for you. I seen a dray-load o' provisions start up -that way. Come on, girls. Cousin Marthy, bein's you're engaged and Si's -engaged, you kin walk with him. The rest o' you fall in behind, and I'll -bring up the rear, as Si'd say, with Mr. Fly-by-night, and hold on to -him so that he sha'n't skip again." - -"Me run away," thought Shorty, as they walked along. "Hosses couldn't -drag me away. I only hope that house is 10 miles off." - -Unfortunately for his cause he could not say nor hint any such a thing, -but walked along in dogged silence. The sky was overcast and cheerless, -and a chill wind blew, but Shorty never knew such a radiant hour. - -"Well, why don't you say something? What's become o' your tongue?" began -Maria banteringly. - -"Have you bit it off, or did some girl, that you bolted off in such a -hurry to see, drain you so dry o' talk that you haint got a word left? -Who is she? What does she look like? What made you in sich a dreadful -hurry to see her? You didn't go clear up to Bad Ax, did you, and kill -that old widower?" - -"Maria," called out Si, "if you don't stop plaguin' Shorty I'll come -back there and wring your neck. You kin make the worst nuisance o' -yourself o' any girl that ever lived. Here, you go up there and walk -with Cousin Marthy. I'll walk with Shorty. I've got something I want to -say to him." - -With that he crowded in between Maria and Shorty and gave his sister a -shove to send her forward. Shorty flared up at the interference. Acute -as his suffering was under Maria's tongue, he would rather endure it -than not have her with him. Anyhow, it was a matter between him and her, -with which Si had no business. - -"You oughtn't to jaw your sister that way, Si," he remonstrated -energetically. "I think it's shameful. I wouldn't talk that way to any -woman, especially sich a one as your sister." - -"Whose sister is she, anyway?" snapped Si, who was as irritable as a -hungry and tired man gets. "You 'tend to your sisters and I'll 'tend to -mine. I'm helpin' you. You don't know Maria. She's one o' the best girls -in the world, but she's got a doublegeared, self-actin' tongue that's -sharper'n a briar. She winds it up Sundays and lets it run all week. -I've got to comb her down every little while. She's a filly you can't -manage with a snaffle. Let her git the start and you'd better be dead. -The boys in our neighborhood's afeared to say their soul's their own -when she gits a-goin'. You 'tend to the other girls and leave me to -'tend to her. She's my sister—nobody else's." - -Have Come, Sir, in the Name of The People Of Indiana To Demand the -Release of Those Men. 199 - -Shorty fell back a little and walked sullenly along. The people at the -house were expecting them, and had a bountiful supper prepared. A good, -sousing wash in the family lavatory in the entry, plentifully supplied -with clear water, soap, tin basins and clean roller towels, helped much -to restore the boys' self-respect and good humor. When they were seated -at the table Maria, as the particular friend of the family, assisted as -hostess, and paid especial attention to supplying Shorty's extensive -wants, and by her assiduous thoughtfulness strengthened her chains upon -him and soothed the hurts her tongue had made. Yet he could not see her -whisper to one of the other girls, and hear the responsive giggle, but -he thought with flushed face that it concerned the Bad Ax incident. But -Maria was not doing any such covert work. She was, above everything, -bold and outspoken. - -"You girls that want a soldier-beau," she took opportunity to remark at -a little pause in the feast, "kin jest set your caps for Mr. Corpril -Elliott there. He's in the market. He had a girl up in Bad Ax, Wis., but -she went back on him, and married a stay-at-home widower, who's in the -lumber business." - -There was a general giggle, and a chorus of exclamations at such -unpatriotic and unwomanly perfidy. Shorty's appetite fled. - -"Maria," thundered Si, "I'll make you pay for this when I git you -alone." - -"Yes," continued the incorrigible tease; "and they say the best time to -ketch a widder is while her eyes is wet. Transplantin's best in wet -weather, and the best time to ketch a feller's jest when he's bin -jilted." - -Si sprang from the table, as if he would catch Maria and slap her. She -laughingly threatened him with a big fork in her hand. They happened to -look toward Shorty. He had risen from the table, with the sweat pouring -from his burning face. He fumbled in his breast for his silk -handkerchief. As he pulled it out there came with it the piece of -Maria's dress, which Shorty had carefully treasured. It fell to the -floor. Shorty saw it, and forgetful of all else, stooped over, picked it -up, carefully brushed the dust from it, refolded it and put if back in -his pocket. Maria's face changed instantly from laughing raillery, and -she made a quick movement to place herself where she would hide from the -rest what he was doing. - -There was a rap at the door and the Sheriff of the County entered. - -"Sorry to disturb you at supper," he said. "But there's some hint of -trouble, and I'd like to have you stand by to help me if it comes. The -news has gone all over the country of the haul you brung into the' jail -this afternoon, and they say their friends are gatherin' for a rescue. -So many o' the right kind o' the boys is away in the army that I hardly -know where to look for help. I'm sending word around to all I kin reach. -There's several o' the boys that're home gittin' well o' wounds that'll -be glad to help. I'm sendin' buggies for 'em. They can't walk, but they -kin stand up and shoot. I'd like to have you come down to the jail as -soon's you git through your supper. And, Serg't Klegg, will you take -command? I ain't much on the military, but I'll stay with you and obey -orders." - -"All right. Sheriff; we'll be right down," responded Si with alacrity. -"Git together a few of the boys, and we'll stand off the Knights. There -won't be much trouble, I think." - -The prospect of a fight transformed Shorty. His shamefacedness vanished -instantly, and he straightened up to his full hight with his eyes -shining. - -"I don't think there's need o' disturbin' the other boys. Sheriff," he -said. "I guess me and Si'll be able to stand off any crowd that they're -likely to run up aginst us." - -"Don't know about that," said the Sheriff doubtfully. "They've bin -gittin' sassier and sassier lately, and've showed more willingness to -fight. They've put up several very nasty little shindies at one place or -another. Out at Charleston, Ill., they killed the Sheriff and a lot o' -soldiers right in the Courthouse yard in broad daylight. I believe -they've got rebels for officers. We mustn't take no chances." - -"Let 'em come on," said Si. "We've run up aginst rebels before. We'll be -down to the jail in a few minutes. Sheriff." - -The Sheriff's words had banished the ready laughter from the girls' -lips, and taken away their appetites, but seemed to have sharpened those -of Si and Shorty. - -"Here, Maria," called out Si, as he resumed his place at the table with -Shorty, while the girls grouped together and whispered anxiously, "bring -us in some more o' them slapjacks. We may have to be up all night, and -want somethin' that'll stay by us." - -"Yes," echoed Shorty, speaking for the first time since he had come into -the house; "I feel as if I'd like to begin all over agin." - -"I wish you could begin all over agin," said Maria in a tone very -different from her former one. "I'd like to cook another supper for you. -I wish I could do something to help. Can't I go with you and do -something—load guns, or something? I've read about women doin' somethin' -o' that kind in the Injun fightin'." - -"If you could git 'em within range o' your tongue, Maria," said Si -merrily, "you'd scatter, 'em in short order. No; you stay here, and say -your prayers, and go to bed like a good girl, and don't worry about us. -We'll come out all right. It's the other fellers' womenfolks that've -cause to worry. Let them stay up and walk the floor." - -As the boys walked down to the jail they saw in the darkness squads of -men moving around in a portentious way. At the jail were the Sheriff, -wearing an anxious look, two or three citizens, and several soldiers, -some with their arms in slings, others on crutches. - -"I'm so glad you've come," said the Sheriff. "Things is beginnin' to -look very ugly outside. They've got the whole country stirred up, and -men are coming in on every road. You take command, Sergeant Klegg. I've -bin waitin' for you, so's I could drive over to the station and send a -dispatch to the Governor. The station's about a mile from here, but I'll -be back as soon as my horse'll bring me. I didn't want to send the -dispatch till I was sure there was need of it, for I don't want to bring -soldiers here for nothin'." - -The wheels of the Sheriff's buggy rattled over the graveled road, and a -minute later there was a knock at the outside door. Si opened it and saw -there a young man with a smoothly-shaven face, a shock of rumpled hair -and wearing a silk hat, a black frockcoat and seedy vest and pantaloons. -Si at once recognized him as a lawyer of the place. - -"Who's in charge here?" he asked. - -"I am, for the present," said Si. - -"There it is," said he, in a loud voice, that others might hear; "a -military guard over citizens arrested without warrant of law. I have -come, sir, in the name of the people of Indiana, to demand the immediate -release of those men." - -"You kin go, sir, and report to them people that it won't be did," -answered Si firmly. - -"But they've been arrested without due process of law. They've been -arrested in violation of the Constitution and laws of the State of -Indiana, which provide—" - -"I ain't here to run no debatin' society," Si interrupted, "but to obey -my orders, which is to hold these men safe and secure till otherwise -ordered." - -"I give you fair warning that you will save bloodshed by releasing the -men peaceably. We don't want to shed blood, but—" - -"We'll take care o' the bloodshed," said Si, nonchalantly. "We're in -that business. We git $13 a month for it." - -"Do you defy the sovereign people of Indiana, you military autocrat?" -said the lawyer. - -"Look here, mister," said Shorty, striding forward. "Don't you call my -pardner no names, especially none like that. If you want a fight we're -here to accommodate you till you git plum-full of it. But you musn't -call no sich names as that, or I'll knock your head off." - -"Whose head'll you knock off?" said a burly man, thrusting himself in -front of the lawyer, with his fist doubled. - -"Yours, for example," promptly responded Shorty, sending out his mighty -right against the man's head. - -"Don't be a fool, Markham," said the lawyer, catching the man and -pushing him back into the crowd behind. "Now, sir, Sergeant, or Captain, -or Colonel, whatever you may call yourself, for I despise military -titles, and don't pretend to know them, I again demand the release of -those men. You'll be foolish to attempt to resist, for we've men enough -to tear you limb from limb, and jerk down the jail over your heads. Look -out for yourself. You can see that the courtyard is full of men. They -are determined—desperate, for they have groaned under the iron heel of -tyranny." - -"O, cheese that stump-speech," said Si, weariedly. "'Taint in our -enlistment papers to have to listen to 'em. You've bin warnin', now I'll -do a little. I'll shoot the first man that attempts to enter this jail -till the Sheriff gits back. If you begin any shootin' we'll begin right -into your crowd, and we'll make you sick. There's some warnin' that -means somethin'." - -"Your blood be on your own heads, then, you brass-button despots," said -the lawyer, retiring into the darkness and the crowd. He seemed to give -a signal, for a rocket shot up into the air, followed by wild yells from -the mob. The large wooden stable in the Courthouse yard burst into -flames, and the prisoners inside yelled viciously in response. There was -a fusillade of shots, apparently excited and aimless, for none of them -struck near. - -"Don't fire, boys," said Si, walking around among his guards, "until -there is some reason for it. They'll probably try to make a rush and -batter down the jail door. We'll watch for that." - -The glare of the burning building showed them preparing for that move. A -gang had torn off the heavy rail from the hitching-post on the outside -of the square, and were going to use it as a battering-ram. Then came -another kind of yell from farther away, and suddenly the mob began -running in wild confusion, while into the glare swept a line of -soldiers, charging with fixed bayonets. - -"A train came in while I was at the depot," the Sheriff explained, as he -entered the office. "It had on it a regiment going home on veteran -furlough. I asked the Major in command to come over and help us. He and -his boys was only too glad for a chance to have some fun and stretch -their legs. They came off the cars with a whoop as soon's they knowed -what was wanted. Now, you boys kin go home and git a good night's sleep. -I'll take these prisoners along with the regiment over to the next -County seat, and keep 'em there till things cool down here. I'm awfully -obliged to you." - -"Don't mention it. Glad to do a little thing like that for you any -time," responded Si, as he and Shorty shook hands with the Sheriff. - -At the next corner, after leaving the Courthouse square, they met Maria -and Martha. - -"I just couldn't stay in the house while this was goin' on," Maria -explained. "I had to come out and see. O, I'm so glad it's all over and -you're not hurt." - -She caught Shorty's arm with a fervor that made him thrill all over. - - - - - -CHAPTER XV. OFF FOR THE FRONT SI AND SHORTY TAKE CHARGE OF A SQUAD OF -RECRUITS. - -WHEN the boys came to breakfast the next morning, they found Maria with -the hollyhock effulgence of garb of the day before changed to the usual -prim simplicity of her housedress. This meant admiration striking Shorty -still dumber. He was in that state of mind when every change in the -young woman's appearance seemed a marvelous transformation and made her -more captivating than before. He had thought her queenly dazzling in her -highly-colored "go-to-meeting" plumage of the day before. She was now -simply overpowering in her plain, close-fitting calico, that outlined -her superb bust and curves, with her hair combed smoothly back from her -bright, animated face. Shorty devoured her with his eyes—that is, when -she was not looking in his direction. He would rather watch her than eat -his breakfast, but when her glance turned toward him he would drop his -eyes to his plate. This became plain to everybody, even Maria, but did -not prevent her beginning to tease. - -"What's the matter with you? Where's your appetite?" asked she. "You're -clean off your feed. You must be in love. Nothin' else'd make a man go -back on these slapjacks that Cousin Marthy made with her own hands, and -she kin beat the County on slapjacks. Mebbe you're thinkin' o' your Bad -Ax girl and her widower. Perk up. He may fall offen a saw-log and git -drowned, and you git her yit. Never kin tell. Life's mighty uncertain, -especially around saw-mills. When I marry a man he's got to give bonds -not to have anything to do, in no way or shape, with saw-mills. I don't -want to be a widder, or take care o' half a man for the rest o' my days. -You've got a chance to git your girl yit. Mebbe she'll git tired o' him -after he's bin run through the mill two or three times, and there's more -o' him in the graveyard than there is walkin' to church with her. Cheer -up." - -Shorty tried to disprove the charge as to the subject of his thoughts by -falling to furiously and with such precipitation that he spilt his -coffee, upset the molasses-jug, and then collapsed in dismay at his -clumsiness. - -Maria did not go free herself. The other girls had not been blind to -Shorty's condition of mind, and rather suspected that Maria was not -wholly indifferent to him. When she came into the kitchen for another -supply. Cousin Susie, younger sister of Martha, remarked: - -"Maria, I've a notion to take your advice, and set my cap for Corpril -Shorty. Do you know, I think he's very good lookin'. He's a little rough -and clumsy, but a girl could take that out o' him. I believe I'll begin -right away. You stay in here and bake and I'll wait on the table." - -"Don't be a little goose, Susie," said Maria severely. "You're too young -yit to think about beaux. You hain't got used to long dresses yit. You -go practice on boys in roundabouts awhile. This is a full-grown man and -a soldier. He hain't got no time to waste on schoolgirls." - -"Ha, how you talk, Miss Jealousy," responded Susie. "How scared you are -lest I cut you out. I've a great mind to do it, just to show you I kin. -I'd like awfully to have a sweetheart down at the front, just to crow -over the rest o' the girls. Here, you take the turner and let me carry -that plate in." - -"I'll do nothin' o' the kind," said Maria, decisively. "You look out for -your cakes there. They're burnin' while you're gossipin'. That's my -brother and his friend, and I hain't got but a short time to be with -'em. I may never see 'em agin, and I want to do all I kin for 'em while -they're with me." - -"Too bad about your brother," laughed Susie. "How lovin' and attentive -all at once. I remember how you used to wig him without mercy at school, -and try to make him go off and take me home, instid o' taggin' along -after you, when that big-eyed school teacher that sung tenor'd be makin' -sheep's eyes at you in school, and wantin' to walk home with you in the -evenin'. I remember your slappin' Si for tellin' the folks at home about -the teacher and you takin' long walks at noon out to the honeysuckle -patch. I've a great mind to go in and tell it all to Si right before -that feller. Then your cake'll all be dough. Don't git too uppish with -me, young lady. Gi' me that plate and let me take it in." - -The cakes on the griddles burned while Maria watched through the door -what she mentally described as the "arts and manuvers o' that sassy -little piece." She was gratified to see that Shorty's eyes kept glancing -at the door for her own reappearance. She carried in the next plate of -cakes herself, and though they were a little scorched, Shorty ate them -with more zest than any of their predecessors. - -Si announced, as he shoved back from the table: - -"Well, we've got to go right off. We must ketch that accommodation and -git back to Bean Blossom Crick. I want to say good-by to the folks, and -then strike out for Jeffersonville. I've reported that I'm able for -dooty agin, and there's orders at home for me and Shorty to go to -Jeffersonville and git a gang o' recruits that's bin gethered there, and -bring 'em to the rijimint." - -Shorty had been in hopes that Si would dally for a day or so in these -pleasant pastures, but then he reflected that where Annabel was was -likely to be much more attractive to Si than where she was not. - -"No need o' my goin' back with you," he ventured to suggest, speaking -for the first time. "I might take the train goin' East, and git things -in shape at Jeffersonville by the time you come." - -Then his face grew hot with the thought that everyone saw through his -transparent scheme to get an hour or two more with Maria. - -"No," said Si, decisively. "You'll go back with me. Father and mother -and 'Mandy are all anxious to see you, and they'll never forgive me if I -don't bring you back with me. Le's start." - -If, at parting. Shorty had mustered up courage enough to look Maria -squarely in the eyes, he might have read something there to encourage -him, but no deeply-smitten man ever can do this. There is where the -"light o' loves" have the great advantage. He could only grip her hand -convulsively for an instant, and then turn and follow Si. - -At the Deacon's home Shorty found the same quiet, warm welcome, with too -much tact on the part of anyone except little Sammy Woggles to make any -comment on the circumstances of his disappearance. Sammy was clearly of -the opinion that Si had run down Shorty and brought him back, and this -had the beneficial effect of dampening Sammy's runaway schemes. He was -also incensed at Shorty's perfidy in not sending him the rebel gun, and -thought that his being brought back was righteous retribution. - -"Served you right, you black-hearted promise-breaker," he hissed at -Shorty when they found themselves momentarily alone. "I writ you that -letter, and it nearly killed me—brung me down with the measles, and you -never sent me that gun. But I'll foller yer trail till you do." - -"Don't be a little fool, Sammy. You stay right here. You've got the best -home in the world here. If you do I'll send you your gun inside of a -month, with some real rebel catridges and a bayonet that's killed a man, -and a catridge-box with a belt that you kin carry your ammunition -in—that is, if you'll write me another letter, all about Maria." - -"I won't write you a word about Maria," said the youth, seeing his -advantage, "onless you promise to send me a whole lot o' catridges—a -hatful. Powder and lead costs a heap o' money. And so do caps." - -I'll Send You a Catridge and Cap for Every Word You Write About Maria. -213 - -"You shall have 'em. I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll send you a -catridge and cap for every word you write about Maria." - -"It's a go," said the delighted boy. "I'm goin' to learn someway to -write without bitin' my tongue, an' I'll write you as many words every -day as I want catridges to shoot off, so that I'll have enough for the -next Fourth o' July, and kill all old Pete Walker's snappin' dogs -besides." - -The boys were to leave on the midnight train. The bigger part of Si's -leave-taking seemed to be outside of his family, for he quit the house -immediately after supper and did not leave Annabel's side until he had -just barely time to get back home, take leave of his weeping mother and -help store in the spring wagon more than he and Shorty could carry of -the good things she had provided for them. - -"What's this?" said Si to Shorty the next day at Jeffersonville, when -they had reported to the Provost-Marshal, and had mustered before them -the squad of recruits that they were to conduct to their regiment. "Have -they bin roundin' up some country school-houses, and enlisted all the -boys that was in the fourth reader and Ray's arithmetic?" - -"Seems like it," said Shorty, looking down the line of bright, -beardless, callow faces. "Some o' them don't look as if they'd got as -fur as the fourth reader. Ain't old enough to spell words o' more than -two syllables. What do they want with so many drummer-boys?" - -"We aint no drummer-boys," said a bright-faced five-footer, who overhead -the question. "Nary drum for us. We haint got no ear for music. We're -regular soldiers, we are, and don't you forget it." - -"But you ain't nigh 18," said Si, looking him over, pleased with the -boy's spirit. - -"You bet I'm over 18," answered the boy. "I told the Mustering Officer I -was, and stuck to it in spite of him. There, you can see for yourself -that I am," and he turned up his foot so as to show a large 18 marked on -the sole of his shoe. "There, if that don't make me over 18, I'd like to -know what does," he added triumphantly, to the chorus of laughter from -his companions. - -In the entire squad of 65 there were not more than half a dozen bearded -men. The rest were boys, all clearly under their majority, and many -seeming not over 15. There were tall, lathy boys, with tallowy faces; -there were short, stocky boys, with big legs and arms and fat faces as -red as ripe apples, and there were boys neither very fat nor very lean, -but active and sprightly as cats. They were in the majority. Long and -short, fat and lean, they were all bubbling over with animal spirits and -activity, and eager to get where they could see "real war." - -"Say, mister," said the irrepressible five-footer, who had first spoken -to Si; "we've bin awful anxious for you to come and take us to our -regiment. We want to begin to be real soldiers." - -"Well, my boy," said Si, with as much paternalism as if he had been a -grandfather, "you must begin right now, by actin' like a real soldier. -First, you mustn't call me mister. Mustn't call nobody mister in the -army. My name's Sergeant Klegg. This other man is Corporal Elliott, You -must always call us by those names, When you speak to either of us you -must take the position of a soldier—stand up straight, put your heels -together, turn your toes out, and salute, this way." - -"Is this right?" asked the boy, carefully imitating Si. - -"Yes, that's purty near right—very good for first attempt. Now, when I -speak to you, you salute and answer me. What is your name?" - -"Henry Joslyn, sir." - -"Well, Henry, you are now Private Joslyn, of the 200th Injianny -Volunteer Infantry. I can't tell what company you'll belong to till we -git to the rigimint, but I'll try to have you in Co. Q, my company." - -"But when are we going to get our guns and knapsacks and things, and -start for the regiment?" persisted the eager boy, and the others joined -in the impatient inquiry. - -"You won't git your guns and accourterments till you git to the -rigimint. As soon's I kin go over this roll and identify each one o' -you, I'll see what the orders is for starting." - -"There goes some men for the ferry now. Why can't we go with them?" -persisted the boy. - -"Private Joslyn," said Si, with some official sternness, "the first -thing a soldier's got to learn is to keep quiet and wait for orders. You -understand?" - -"'Pears to me that there's a lot o' first things to learn," grumbled the -boy to the others, "and it's nothin' but wait, wait forever. The army'll -go off and leave us if we don't get down there purty soon." - -"Don't worry, my boy, about the army goin' off and leavin' you," said -Shorty in a kindly way. "It'll wait. It kin be depended on for that. -Besides, it's got to wait for me and Sargint Klegg." - -"That's so. Didn't think o' that," chorused the boys, to whose eyes the -two veterans seemed as important as Gens. Grant or Thomas. - -"That's purty light material for serious bizniss, I'm afeared," said -Shorty to Si, as they stood a little apart for a moment and surveyed the -coltish boys, frisking around in their new blouses and pantaloons, which -fitted about like the traditional shirt on a bean-pole. - -"I think they're just splendid," said Si, enthusiastically. "They'll -fill in the holes o' the old rigimint in great shape. They're as tough -as little wildcats; they'll obey orders and go wherever you send 'em, -and four out o' every five o' them kin knock over a crow at a hundred -yards with a squirrel rifle. But, Shorty," he added with a sudden -assumption of paternal dignity, "me and you's got to be fathers to them. -We've got a great responsibility for them. We must do the very best we -kin by 'em." - -"That's so," said Shorty, catching at once the fatherly feeling. "I'll -punch the head off en the first sneezer that I ketch tryin' to impose on -'em." - - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. THE TROUBLESOME BOYS SI AND SHORTY'S RECRUITS ENTER -KENTUCKY. - -THE bright, active minds of the 65 boys that Si and Shorty were put in -charge of were aflame with curiosity regarding everything connected with -the war. For two years they had been fed on stories and incidents of the -mighty conflict then convulsing the land. Every breath they had drawn -had some taste of battle in it. Wherever they went or were they heard -incessantly of the storm-swept "front"—of terrific battles, perilous -adventures, heroic achievements, death, wounds and marvelous escapes. -The older boys were all at the front, or going there, or coming back -with heroic marks of shot and shell. The one burning aspiration in every -well-constructed boy's heart was to get big enough to crowd past the -recruiting officer, and go where he could see with his own eyes the -thunderous drama. There was concentrated all that fills a healthy boy's -imagination and stirs his blood—something greater than Indian-fighting, -or hunting lions and tigers. They looked on Si and Shorty with little -short of reverence. Here were two men who had captured a rebel flag in a -hand-to-hand fight, both of whom had been left for dead, and both -promoted for gallantry. What higher pinnacle of greatness could any boy -hope to reach? - -They began at once seriously imitating the walk and manners of their -heroes. The tall, lank boys modeled themselves on Shorty, and the short, -chubby ones on Si. And there at once rose contention between them as to -which was the greater hero. - -"I heard," said Henry Joslyn, "that Corpril Elliott was the first to -reach the rebel flag, he havin' much the longest legs, but jest as he -grabbed it a big rebel knocked him, and then they all piled on to him, -and about had him finished when Serg't Klegg reached there at a charge -bayonets, and he bayoneted everybody in sight, until a sharpshooter in a -tree shot him with an explosive bullet that tore his breast all to -pieces, but he kept right on bayonetin' 'em till he dropped from loss o' -blood. Then they fired a cannon at the sharpshooter and blowed him to -pieces just as you'd blow a chippy to pieces with a bullet from a bear- -gun." - -"'Twan't that way at all," said tall, lathy Gid Mackall. "A whole lot of -'em made for the flag together. A charge o' grapeshot come along and -blowed the rest away, but Serg't Klegg and Corpril Elliott kep' right -on. Then Corpril Elliott he lit into the crowd o' rebels and laid a -swath right around him, while Sergint Klegg grabbed the flag. A rebel -Colonel shot him, but they couldn't stop Corpril Elliott till they shot -a brass six-pounder at him." - -The boys stood on the banks of the Ohio River and gazed eagerly at the -other side. There was the enemy's country—there the theater in which the -great drama was being enacted. Everything there had a weird fascination -for them, as a part of, or accessory to, the stupendous play. It was -like peeping under the circus tent, when they were smaller, and catching -glimpses of the flying horses' feet. - -And the questions they asked. Si had in a manner repelled them by his -curt treatment of Harry Joslyn, and his preoccupied air as he went back -and forth getting his orders and making preparations for starting. But -Shorty was in an affable mood, and by pleasantly answering a few of -their inquiries brought the whole fire of their questioning upon him. - -"Are any o' them men you see over there guerrillas?" they asked. - -"Mebbe," Shorty answered. "Kentucky's full of 'em. Mebbe they're -peaceable citizens, though." - -"How kin you tell the guerrillas from the citizens?" - -"By the way they shoot at you. The peaceable citizens don't shoot—at -least, in day time and out in the open. They lay for you with sole- -leather pies, and chuck-a-luck boards and 40-rod whisky, and aid. and -abet the Southern Confedrisy that way. They get away with more Union -soldiers than the guerrillas do. But you can never tell what an able- -bodied man in Kentucky'll do. He may lay for you all day with wildcat -whisky, at $5 a canteenful, to git money to buy ammunition to shoot at -you at night. He's surer o' gittin' you with a canteen o' never-miss -whisky, but there's more healthy excitement about shootin' at you from -behind a bank. And his pies is deadlier'n his apple-jack. A man kin git -over an apple-jack drunk, but Kentucky pies 's wuss'n nux vomica on -fish." - -"Mustn't we eat none o' their pies?" asked the boys, with longing -remembrance of the fragrant products of their mothers' ovens. - -"Nary a pie. If I ketch a boy eatin' a pie after we cross the river I'll -buck-and-gag him. Stick to plain hardtack and pork. You'll git to like -it better'n cake by and by. I eat it right along in preference to the -finest cake ever baked." - -Shorty did not think it necessary to mention that this preference was -somewhat compulsory. - -"Why don't you hunt down the guerrillas and kill 'em off and be done -with 'em?" - -"You can't, very well. You see, guerrilain' is peculiar. There's -somethin' in the air and water down in Kentucky and Tennessee that -brings it on a man. You'll see a plain farmer man, jest like them around -your home, and he'll be all right, goin' about his place plowin' and -grubbin' sprouts and tendin' to his stock, and tellin' you all the time -how much he loves the Union and how he and his folks always bin for the -Union. Next thing you know he'll be out behind a cedar bush with a -shotgun loaded with slugs, waitin' to make a lead mine o' some feller -wearin' blue clothes. You see him before he does you, and he'll swear -that he was out after the crows that's bin pullin' up his corn. He'll -take' the oath of allegiance like it was a dram of old apple-jack, and -tears'll come into his eyes at the sight o' the Old Flag, which he and -his'n has always loved. He'll go ahead plowin' and grubbin' sprouts and -tendin' his cattle till the fit comes on him agin to go gunnin' for -bluecoats, and off he is, to go through the whole performance agin. You -kin never tell how long his loosid interval will last, nor when the -fit's comin' on him. Mebbe the changes o' the moon's somethin' to do -with it. Mebbe it's somethin' that they eat, like what the cattle eat -out West that makes 'em go crazy." - -"Will the guerrillas begin shootin' at us as soon's we cross the river?" - -"Can't tell. Guerrillas's like the nose-bleed—likely to come on you at -any time. They're jest where you find 'em—that's when they're jumpin' -you.. When they aint jumpin' you, they're lawabiding Union citizens, -entitled to the protection o' the laws and to draw rations from the -Commissary. To make no mistake, you want to play every man in citizen's -clothes south of the Ohio River for a rebel. And when you don't see him, -you want to be surer than ever, for then he's layin' for you." - -Si came up at this moment with orders for them to pick up and go down to -the ferry, and the lively hustle shut off Shorty's stream of information -for the time being. The boys swarmed on to the bow of the ferry-boat, -where they could scrutinize and devour with eager eyes the fateful shore -of Kentucky. - -"Don't look so very different from the Indiana side," said Harry Joslyn, -as they neared the wharf. "Same kind o' wharf-boats and same kind o' men -on 'em." - -"That's because we've taken 'em and have our own men there," replied Gid -Mackall. "It'll all be different when we git ashore and further into the -State." - -"Wasn't expecting nothing else," said Albert Grimes. "I've been watchin' -the Sargint and Corpril, and they're acting just as if it was every day -bizniss. I'm not going to expect anything till I see them lookin' -serious." - -They landed and walked to the depot through the streets of Louisville, -which were also disappointingly like those they had seen elsewhere, with -the stores open and people going about their business, as if no shadow -of war brooded over the land. There were some more soldiers on the -streets, and a considerable portion of the vehicles were army wagons, -but this was all. - -"When'll we see some rebels?" the boys asked. - -"Don't be impatient," said a soldier on the sidewalk; "you'll see 'em -soon enough, and more'n you want to. You'll have to go a little further, -but you'll find the woods full of 'em. You'll be wishin' you was back -home in your little trundle-beds, where they ought've kept you." - -"Shut up, you coffee-boiler," shouted Shorty, striding toward him. -"These boys 's goin' to the front, where you ought to be, and I won't -have you sayin' a word to discourage 'em." - -"Too bad about discouraging 'em," laughed another, who had a juster -appreciation of the situation. "You couldn't discourage that drove of -kids with a hickory club." - -After the train left Louisville it passed between two strong forts -bristling with heavy guns. Here was a reality of war, and the boys' tide -of questions became a torrent that for once overslaughed Shorty's fine -talent for fiction and misinformation. - -"How many battles had been fought there?" - -"How many Union soldiers had been killed?" - -"How many rebels?" - -"Where were they buried?" - -"How big a ball did the guns shoot?" - -"How far would it carry?" - -"How many men would it kill if they were put one behind another?" - -"How near would the guns come to hitting a man a mile off?" - -"Could the gunner knock a man's head off, or one of his legs, just as he -pleased?" - -"Were the guns rifled or smooth-bore?" - -"How much powder did it take to load them?" - -"How hard did they kick when they were fired?" - -"Did they have flint-locks or caps?" - -"Did they ever fire chain-shot, which would cut down trees and sweep -away companies of men?" - -"If all the rest of the men were killed wouldn't the powder-monkey get a -chance to fire the gun?" - -"Look here, boys," gasped Shorty, when he got a chance to answer, "I'd -like to answer your questions and fill you so plumb full o' information -that your hides'd crack to hold it. But I aint no complete history o' -the war with heavy artillery tactics bound up in one volume. All I know -is that the worst dose them forts ever give was to the fellers that had -to build 'em. After you've dug and shoveled and wheeled on one of 'em -for about a month you'll hate the very sight of 'em and never ask no -questions about 'em. All you'll want'll be to find and kill the feller -that invented them brick-red eruptions on the face o' the earth." - -This was a prosaic side of the war that had not occurred to the boys. - -'here, You Young Brats, What Are You up to 225 - -As the train ran out into the country there were plentiful signs of war -to rivet the attention of the youngsters—hospitals, with the emaciated -patients strolling feebly about; corrals of mules and horses, the waste -and wreckage where camps had been, and bridges which had been burned and -rebuilt. - -"But we haint seen no guerrillas yit," said Harry Joslyn and Gid -Mackall, whose minds seemed more fascinated with that species of an -enemy than any other, and they apparently voiced the minds of the rest. -"When're we likely to see some guerrillas?" - -"O, the guerrillas are layin' purty low now, betwixt here and -Nashville," Si carelessly explained. "After we pass Nashville you kin -begin to look out for 'em." - -"Why," Gid Mackall complained to the rest of them, "Corpril Elliott said -that we could begin to look out for guerrillas jest as soon's we crossed -the Ohio—that the whole o' Kentucky was full of 'em. I believe Corpril -Elliott knows more about his business than Sargint Klegg. Sargint Klegg -seems careless like. I see lots o' fellers along the road in butternut -clothes that seemed savage and sneaky like. They looked at us in a way -that made me certain they wuz spying us, and had their guns hid away -somewhere, ready to jump us whenever there wuz a good chanst." - -"So did I," chorused the others. - -The train made a long stop on a switch and manuvered around a while, -taking on some cars found there, and Si and Shorty seeing nothing to do -went forward to another car, where they found some returning veterans, -and were soon absorbed in a game of seven-up. Shorty had just -successfully turned a jack from the bottom, and was snickering to -himself that his fingers had not lost their cunning by long idleness, -when the game was interrupted by a train-hand rushing up with the -information: - -"Here, you fellers, you want to git out there and 'tend to them kids o' -your'n. They've got a couple o' citizens down there in the brush and I -believe are goin' to hang 'em." - -Si and Shorty ran down in the direction indicated. They found the boys, -stern-eyed and resolute, surrounding two weak-eyed, trembling -"crackers," who had apparently come to the train with baskets of -leathery-crusted dried-apple pies for sale. The men were specimens of -the weak-minded, weak-bodied, lank-haired "po' white trash," but the -boys had sized them up on sight as dangerous spies and guerrillas, had -laid hands on them and dragged them down into the brush, where Gid -Mackall and Harry Joslyn were doing a fair reproduction of Williams, -Paulding and Van Wert searching Maj. Andre's clothes for incriminating -documents. They had the prisoners' hands tied behind them and their -ankles bound. So far they had discovered a clumsy brass-barreled pistol -and an ugly-looking spring dirk, which were sufficient to confirm the -dangerous character of the men. Two of the boys had secured ropes from -the train, which they were trying to fashion into hangman's nooses. Gid -and Harry finished a painstaking examination of the men's ragged jeans -vests, with a look of disappointment at finding nothing more inculpating -that some fishhooks, chunks of twist tobacco and cob-pipes. - -"They must have 'em in their boots, boys. Pull 'em off," said Harry. -"There's where spies usually carry their most important papers." - -"Here, you young brats, what are you up to?" demanded Si, striding in -among them. - -"Why, Sargint," said Harry Joslyn, speaking as if confident of being -engaged in a praisworthy work, which should receive the commendation of -his superiors, "these're two spies and guerrillas that we ketched right -in the act, and we're searchin' 'em for evidence to hang 'em." - -"Spies nothin'!" said Si. "Why, them fellers hain't brains enough to -tell a battery from a regiment, nor pluck enough to take a settin' hen -offen her nest. Let them go at once." - -"Why, Corpril Elliott told us that every man in Kentucky, particularly -them what sold pies, wuz dangerous, and liable to go guerrillying at any -minute," said Harry in an aggrieved tone. "These fellers seemed to be -sneakin' down to find that we hadn't no guns and then jump us." - -"Well, what I said wuz true on jineral principles," laughed Shorty. "But -there's occasionally exceptions to even what I tell you. These fellers -are as harmless as garter-snakes. Why didn't you come and speak to us?" - -"Why, you shoved our car out there into the brush and went off and left -us. We thought we had to look out for ourselves," explained Harry. -"Can't we hang 'em, anyway?" he added in an appealing tone, and the rest -of the boys looked wistfully at Si for permission to proceed. - -"No, you can't, I tell you. Turn 'em loose this minute, and give 'em -back their things, and go yourselves to your car. We're goin' to start -now. Here," he continued to the two men, "is a dollar. Take your pies -and dig out. Don't attempt to sell any o' them pies to these boys, or -I'll hang you myself, and there won't be no foolishness about it. Git -back to your car, boys." - -"There won't be no hangin', and we won't git none o' the pies," -complained the boys among themselves. "Sargint Klegg's gittin' -overbearin'. What'd he interfere for? Them fellers was guerrillas, as -sure as you're born, just as Corpril Elliott described 'em before we -crossed the river." - - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. THE FRIGHTENED SURGEON SI AND SHORTY HAVE A TIME WITH -THEIR WILD, YOUNG SQUAD. - -MUCH to their amazement, the boys waked up the next morning in -Nashville, and found that they had passed through the "dark and bloody -ground" of Kentucky absolutely without adventure. - -"How in the world'd we ever git clean through the State without the -least bit o' trouble?" asked Harry Joslyn, as they stood together on the -platform awaiting the return of Si and Shorty, who had gone to see about -their breakfast. "It was fight from the word go with the other men from -the minute they struck Kentucky." - -"Probably it was Corpril Elliott's good management," suggested Gid -Mackall, whose hero-worship of Shorty grew apace. "I tell you there aint -a trick o' soldierin' that he aint up to." - -"Corpril Elliott's?" sneered Harry Joslyn. "You're just stuck on Corpril -Elliott. If it was anybody's good management it was Sargint Klegg's. I -tell you, he's the boss. He got shot through the breast, while Corpril -Elliott only got a crack over the head. That settles it as to who's the -best soldier. I'm kind o' sorry that we didn't have no trouble. Mebbe -the folks at home'll git the idea that we skulked and dodged." - -"That's so," accorded the others, with a troubled look. - -"But we are now in Tennessee," chirped in Gid Mackall hopefully. "That's -ever so much worse'n Kentucky. We must come to rebels purty soon now. -They won't let so many reinforcements git to Gen. Thomas if they kin -help it." And Gid looked around on his companions, as if he thought -their arrival would turn the scale and settle the fate of the -Confederacy. "They'll probably jump us just as soon as we leave town. -Them big forts on the hills mebbe keeps them outside now, but they're -layin' for us just beyond. Wonder if we'll git our guns here? Mebbe -that's what the Sargint and Corpril's gone for." - -"They said they were going for our breakfast," said Harry. "And I hope -it's true, for I'm hungrier'n a rip-saw. But I could put off breakfast -for awhile, if they'd only bring us our guns. I hope they'll be nice -Springfield rifles that'll kill a man at a mile." - -"'Tention!" commanded Si. "Fall in single rank 'cordin' to your size. -Tall boys on the right, short ones on the left, medium in the center. -Gid Mackall, you're the tallest. You can go there to the corner o' the -platform and let the others form on you." - -Si stepped back into the shed to look after some matters. - -Harry Joslyn whipped around and took his stand on the right of Gid -Mackall. - -"Here," protested Gid; "Sargint Klegg told me to stand on the right. -You're smaller'n me. Git on the other side." - -"I won't do it," answered Harry. "I've always stood ahead o' you in -school, ever since we were in the primer class, and I aint goin' to -stand behind you in the army. You needn't try to gouge me out o' my -rights because you're half-a-head taller. I'm two months older'n you, -and I can throw you in a wrastle every time." - -"I tell you," said Gid, giving Harry an angry shove toward the left, -"that this is my place, and I'm goin' to stand here. The Sargint told me -to. Go down where you belong, you little rat." - -The hot-headed Harry mixed up with him immediately, school-boy fashion. -Shorty rushed up and separated the two, giving Harry a sharp shake. -"Stop that, and go down to your place in the center," said he. - -"Yes; you side with him," whimpered Harry, "because he praises you and -says you're a better soldier'n Sargint Klegg. I'm goin' to tell Sargint -Klegg that." - -"Here," said Si, sternly, as he came back again. "What's all this row? -Why don't you boys fall in 'cordin' to size, as I told you?" - -"Sargint," protested Harry, "Gid Mackall wants to stand at the head o' -the class. I'm older'n him, I can spell him down, and I can throw him -in—" - -Si interrupted the appeal by taking Harry by the ear and marching him to -his place. - -"Look here," he said, "when you git an order from anyone, don't give 'em -no back talk. That's the first thing you've got to learn, and the -earlier you learn it the less trouble you'll have. If you don't like it, -take it out in swearin' under your breath, but obey." - -"But, Sargint, he said that Corpril Elliott was a better soldier'n" - -"Silence in ranks," said Si, giving him a shake. "Right dress. Come out -in the center. Mackall, stand up straight there. Take that hump out o' -your shoulders. Put your heels together, all of you. Turn your toes out. -Put your little fingers down to the seams o' your pantaloons. Draw your -stomachs in. Throw your chests out. Hold your heads up. Keep your faces -straight to the front, and cast your eyes to the right until you kin see -the buttons on the breast o' the third man to your right. Come forward -until they're in line. - -"Goodness," moaned some of the boys, as they were trying to obey what -seemed a' hopeless mass of directions, "do we have to do this every -mornin' before we kin have breakfast? We'll starve to death before we -git anything to eat. No use tellin' us to draw our stomachs in. They're -clean in to our backbones now." - -"Mustn't talk in ranks, boys," Shorty kindly admonished. "It's strictly -agin' regulations. Straighten up, there, like soldiers, all o' you, and -git into a line. Looks like a ram's horn now. If the rebels'd shoot down -that line they wouldn't hit one o' you." - -Jim Humphries, one of the medium-sized boys, suddenly turned as white as -a sheet and fell on the planks. One after another of those around him -did the same, until a half-dozen were lying there in a heap. - -"What in the world's the matter?" asked Si, rushing up to them in -dismay. - -"They're pizened, that's what they are," shouted Harry Joslyn. "That -guerrilla goin' over there pizened 'em. I saw him a-givin' 'em -something. He's tryin' to git away. Le's ketch him." - -At the word the boys made a rush for the man who was quietly walking -off. As they ran they threw stones, which went with astonishing -precision and force. One of them struck the man on the head and felled -him. Then the boys jumped on him and began pounding and kicking him. Si -and Shorty came up, pushed off the boys and pulled the man to his feet. -He was terrified at the onset which had been made upon him, and could -not understand its reason. - -"What've I done?" he gasped. "What're all yo'uns weltin' me for? I haint -no rebel. I've done tuk the oath of allegiance long ago." - -"Now there'll be a hangin' sure," said Harry, in eager expectancy. - -"What'd you do to them boys back there?" demanded Si. - -"Didn't do nothin' to 'em. Sw'ar to God A'mighty I didn't." - -"That telegraph pole will be just the thing to hang him on," suggested -Harry to Gid. "We could put him on a flat car and push the car out from -under him. I'll look around for a rope, Gid, and you git ready to climb -the pole." - -"He did do something to 'em, Sargint," said Gid Mackall. "I seen him -givin' 'em something." - -"'Twas only a little mite o' terbacker," the man explained. "They'uns -said they'uns was mouty hongry, and wanted t' know if I'd anything t' -eat. I hadn't nothing, but I done had a little terbacker, which I tole -'em'd take away the hongry feelin', and I gin each o' they'uns a lettle -chaw." - -"I shouldn't wonder but he's tellin' the truth," Shorty whispered to Si. -"Le's take him back there and see." - -Coming back to the platform they found the boys there recovering but -still very weak and pale. They confirmed the story about the tobacco. -Shorty examined the rest of the tobacco in the man's possession with the -practiced taste of a connoisseur, found it strong black plug, just the -thing to upset a green boy who took it on an empty stomach, cut off a -liberal chew for himself and dismissed the man with a kick. - -"Now, le's form agin and march to breakfast. Great Scott, how hungry I -am," said Si. "'Tention. Fall in 'cordin' to size. Single rank." - -"What's size got to do with gittin' breakfast?" complained Harry Joslyn, -who had another grievance, now that he had again been disappointed in -hanging a guerrilla. "Biggest boys'll git there first and get the most -to eat. The rest of us need just as much as they do." - -"Silence in the ranks," commanded Shorty, snappishly. "Don't fool -around. Git into your place and stay there. We want breakfast some time -today." - -Shorty lined up the boys in a hurry and Si commanded. - -"Right dress! Come out a little there on the left! Steady! Without -doublin', right face!" - -A squad of Provost-Guards came up at a double-quick, deployed, -surrounded the squad and began bunching the boys together rather -roughly, using the butts of their muskets. - -"What does this mean?" Si asked angrily of the Lieutenant in command. - -"It means that you and your precious gang have to go down to Provo' -Headquarters at once," answered the Lieutenant. "And no words about it. -Forward, march, now." - -"But you've got no business to interfere with me," protested Si. "I've -got my orders to take this squad o' recruits to my regiment, and I'm -doin' it. I'm goin' to put 'em on the cars as soon's I kin git breakfast -for 'em, and start for Chattanoogy." - -"Well, why didn't you get breakfast for them and put them on the cars -peaceably and quietly, without letting them riot around and kill -citizens and do all manner of devilment. You have a fine account to -settle." - -"But they haint killed no citizen. They haint bin riotin' around, and I -ain't a-goin' with you. You've no right, I tell you, to interfere with -me." - -"Well, you just will go with me, and no more chinning." - -A Major, attracted by the altercation, rode up and asked what was the -matter. - -"Word came to Headquarters," explained the Lieutenant, "that a squad of -recruits were rioting, and had killed a citizen, and I was sent down -here on the run to stop it and arrest the men. This Sergeant, who seems -to be in command, refuses to go with me." - -"I tell you, Major," said Si, who recognized the officer as belonging to -his brigade, "there was nobody killed, or even badly hurt. These little -roosters got up a school-yard scrap all about a mistake; it was all over -in a minute. There's the man they say was killed, settin' over there on -that pile o' lumber smokin' his pipe." - -"You're Si Klegg, aren't you, of the 200th Ind.?" asked the Major. - -"Yes, Major," answered Si, saluting. "And you're Maj. Tomlinson, of the -1st Oshkosh. This is my pardner. Shorty." - -"Glad to see you with Sergeant's stripes on," said the Major, shaking -hands with him. "I congratulate you on your promotion. You deserved it, -I know." - -"So did Shorty," added Si, determined that his partner should not lack -full measure of recognition. - -"Yes, I congratulate Shorty, too. Lieutenant, I know these men, and they -are all right. There has been a mistake. You can take your men back to -Headquarters." - -"'Tention," commanded the Lieutenant. "Get into line! Right dress! -Front! Right face! Forward, file left—march!" - -"'Tention," commanded Si. "Fall in in single ranks, 'cordin' to size. Be -mighty spry about it. Right dress! Count off in whole numbers." - -Another Provost squad came double-quicking up, followed by some -ambulances. Again the boys were hurriedly bunched up. The Provost squad, -however, did not seem to want to come to as close quarters as the other -had. They held back noticeably. - -"Now, what in thunder does this mean?" asked Si with angry impatience. -"What's up now?" - -"Sergeant, are you in command of this squad?" asked a brisk little man -with the green stripes of a Surgeon, who got out of one of the -ambulances. - -"Yes, I am," said Si, saluting as stiffly as he dared. "What's the -matter?" - -"Well, get those men of yours that are down into the ambulances as -quickly as you can, and form those that are able to walk close behind. -Be on the jump, because the consequences of your staying here may be -serious to the army. How are you feeling yourself? Got any fever? Let me -see your tongue." - -"What in the world's the matter with you?" asked Si in bewilderment. - -"Come, don't waste any time asking questions," answered the nervous -little Surgeon. "There's more troops coming right along, and we mustn't -take any chances of their catching it." - -"Ketch what? Great grief, ketch what?" groaned Si. "They've already -ketched everything in this mortal world that was ketchable. Now what are -they goin' to ketch?" - -"Why, the smallpox, you dumby," said the Surgeon irritably. "Don't you -know that we are terribly afraid of a visitation of smallpox to the -army? They've been having it very bad in some places up North, and we've -been watching every squad of recruits from up there like hawks. A man -came down to Hospital Headquarters just now and reported that a dozen of -your boys had dropped right on the platform. He said that he knew you, -and you came from a place in Indiana that's being swept by the -smallpox." - -Smallpox, Your Granny, Said si 237 - -"Smallpox, your granny," said Si wrathfully. "There haint bin no -smallpox in our neighborhood since the battle o' Tippecanoe. The only -man there who ever had it fit in the battle under Gen. Harrison. He had -it when he was a child, and was so old that the pockmarks on him wuz -wore so smooth you could scarcely see 'em. Our neighborhood's so healthy -you can't even have a square case o' measles. Gosh darn it," Si -exploded, "what glandered fool was it that couldn't tell 'backer-sick -from smallpox? What locoed calves have you runnin' up to your -Headquarters bawlin' reports?" - -"Sir," said the Surgeon stiffly, "you forget that you are speaking to -your superior officer." - -"Excuse me. Doctor," said Si, recovering himself and saluting. "I'm very -hungry, and worried to death with these frisky kids that I'm trying to -git to my regiment. The only trouble is that some of the trundle-bed -graduates took their first chaw o' terbacker this mornin' on empty -stomachs and it keeled 'em over. Come here and look at 'em yourself. -You'll see it in a minute." - -"Certainly. I see it very plainly," said the Surgeon, after looking them -over. "Very absurd to start such a report, but we are quite nervous on -the subject of smallpox getting down to the army. - -"Take your men in and give them their breakfast, Sergeant, and they'll -be all right. - -"That's what I've bin tryin' to do for the last two hours," said Si, as -he saluted the Surgeon, departing with his ambulances and men. -"'Tention. Confound you, fall in in single rank, 'cordin' to size, and -do it in short meter, before anything else happens. Right dress! Front! -Without doublin', right face! Great Scott, what's the matter with you -roosters? Don't you know your right hands from your lefts? Turn around -there, you moon-eyed goshngs! Forward—file right—march!" - -"Here, Sergeant," said a large man with three chevrons on his arm. "I -want to halt your men till I look 'em over. Somebody's gone through a -sutler's car over there on the other track and I think it was your -crowd. I want to find out." - -"Halt nothin'," said Si, brushing him out of the way. "I'm goin' to git -these youngsters their breakfast before there's a tornado or an -earthquake. Go 'way, if you know what's good for you." - - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. NO PEACE FOR SI AND SHORTY THE YOUNGSTERS KEEP THEM BUSY -WHILE THE TRAIN MOVES SOUTH. - -THE long fast had sharpened the zest the boys had for their first -"soldier-breakfast." Until they got down to "real soldier-living" they -could not feel that they were actually in the service. To have this -formal initiation in the historic city of Nashville, far in the interior -of the Southern Confederacy, was an exhiliarating event. The coarse fare -became viands of rare appetency. - -"Gracious, how good these beans taste," murmured Harry Joslyn, calling -for a second plateful; "never knowed beans to taste so good before. -Wonder how they cook 'em? We'll have to learn how, Gid, so's to cook 'em -for ourselves, and when we git back home won't we astonish our mothers -and sisters?" - -"And sich coffee," echoed Gid. "I'll never drink cream in my coffee -agin. I hadn't no idee cream spiled coffee so. Why, this coffee's the -best stuff I ever drunk. Beats maple sap, or cider through a straw, all -holler. That's good enough for boys. This 's what men and soldiers -drink." - -"You know those old gods and goddesses," put in Montmorency Scruggs, a -pale, studious boy, for shortness called "Monty," and who had a great -likeness for ancient history and expected to be a lawyer, "drunk what -they called nectar. Maybe it was something like this." - -"But we haven't had any hardtack yet," complained Albert Russell, a -youth somewhat finicky as to dress, and who had ambitions of becoming a -doctor. "They've only given us baker's bread, same as we got on the -other side of the river, only better-tasting. Why don't they give us -real soldier bread? I've heard Uncle Bob laugh at the 'soft-bread -snoozers,' who never got near enough the front to know the taste of -hardtack." - -"Well, I'm going to eat all I can of it while I can get it," said little -Pete Skidmore, the youngest and smallest of the lot, who had only passed -the Mustering Officer by exhibiting such a vehement desire to enter the -service as to make up for his probable lack of years and quite evident -lack of inches. "I've heard Uncle Will say that he was always mighty -glad to get back where he could get soft bread for a change, after he'd -worn his grinders down to the quick chawing hardtack. It tastes awful -good, anyway." - -"The Government must pay big wages to the men it hires to do its -cooking," philosophized Harry Joslyn, "same as it does to its lawyers -and Congressmen and Generals. No common men could cook grub that way. -Mebbe it took the cooks away from the Astor House and Delmonico's." - -"The boys are certainly making up for lost time," complacently remarked -Shorty, as, having taken off the edge of his own hunger with a plateful -of pork-and-beans and a half loaf of bread, he stopped for a moment to -survey the havoc that his young charges, ranged at a long, rough -counter, were making in the Commissary stores. "They're eatin' as if -this was the last square meal they expected to git till the rebellion's -put down." - -"Yes," laughed Si, emptying his second cup of coffee, "I used to think -that we had appetites that'd browse a five-acre lot off clean every -meal, but these kids kin distance us. If they live off the country its -bones 'll be picked mighty white when they pass. That lean, lank Gid -Mackall seems to be as holler as a sassidge-skin. Even that wouldn't -give room for all that he's stowin' away." - -"Harry Joslyn 's runnin' nose-and-nose with him. There ain't the width -o' their forelocks difference. Harry's yelled for more beans at the same -second that Gid has. In fact, not one of 'em has lagged. They're a great -gang, I tell you, but I wouldn't want to board any one of 'em for six -bits a week." - -Maj. Oglesvie came up. - -"Serg't Klegg," said he, "the Quartermaster says that he's got a train -load of ammunition to send forward, but he's scarce of guards. I thought -of your squad. Don't you think you could take charge of it? I don't -imagine there is much need of a guard, for things have been pretty quiet -down the road for some weeks. Still, it isn't right to send off so -important a train without any protection." - -"Only be too glad of the dooty, sir," answered Si, saluting. "It'll give -the boys something to think of besides hanging guerrillas. Besides, -they're just crazy to git hold o' guns. Where kin I git muskets for -'em?" - -"March them right over to that shed there," said the Major, "and the -Quartermaster will issue them muskets and equipments, which you can turn -over again when you reach Chattanooga. Good-by. I hope you'll have a -pleasant trip. Remember me to the boys of the old brigade and tell them -I'll be with them before they start out for Atlanta." - -"Purty slouchy bizniss that, givin' these kids guns before they've had -any drill at all—don't know even the facin's, let alone the manual of -arms," remarked Shorty doubtfully, as they marched over to the shed. -"They'll be shooting holes through each others' heads and the tops o' -the cars, and'll waste more ammynition than a six-mule team kin haul. -They'll make a regler Fourth o' July from here to Chattynoogy." - -"Don't be worried about them boys," Si reassured him. "Every one of 'em -is used to handlin' guns. Then, we kin keep the catridges ourselves and -not issue any till they're needed, which they mayn't be." - -The boys were in a buzz of delight at getting the guns they had so -longed for, and Si's first duty was to end an exuberant bayonet fencing -match between Gid and Harry which was imitated all along the line. - -"Stop that," he called. "Put your minds to learnin' to load and shoot -first. It'll be some time before you git a chance to prod a rebel with a -bayonet. Rebels are as wild as crows. You'll be lucky to git as close to -'em as the other side of a 40-acre field." - -"But s'posin' a rebel runs at you with his bayonet," expostulated Harry -Joslyn, "oughtn't you to know how to ward him off and settle him?" - -"The best way's to settle him jest as he comes over the hill, half-a- -mile away, with an ounce o' cold lead put where he lives. That'll take -the pint offen his bayonet mighty certainly." - -Si and Shorty showed the boys how to put on the belts carrying the cap- -and cartridge-boxes, and gave them a little dumb-show instruction in -loading and firing, ending with exhibiting to them a cartridge, and the -method of tearing it with the teeth and putting it in the gun. - -"Now give us some catridges," clamored the boys, "and let us do some -real shooting." - -"No," said Si; "we'll keep the catridges ourselves, and issue them to -you when the enemy comes in sight." - -"Nice time to give out catridges then," grumbled Harry Joslyn. "When we -see the rebels we want to begin shootin' instid o' botherin' you with -questions. You wouldn't kill many coons if you had to run back to the -house for your powder and lead after you saw the coon before you could -shoot him." - -"Well, you can't have no catridges now," said Si decisively. "We're not -likely to see any coons before we git to Murfreesboro. Then we'll see -how things look further down the road. Take off your bayonets, all o' -you, and pile into them rear cars there. Stow yourselves around and be -as comfortable as you kin." - -The boys preferred the tops of the cars to the inside, and scattered -themselves along the length of the train to view the war-worn country of -which they had heard so much from their relatives who had campaigned -there. Si settled himself down in the car to read the morning papers -which he had gotten in Nashville, and Shorty, producing a pack of new -cards, began a studious practice, with reference to future operations in -Chattanooga. - -The train was slowing down for the bridge near Lavergne, when there came -a single shot, followed by a splutter of them and loud yells. - -There Was a Chorus of Yells, and then Another Volley. 247 - -Exceedingly startled, Si and Shorty sprang up, seized their guns, -bounded to the door and looked out. They could see nothing to justify -the alarm. There was not a rebel, mounted or unmounted, in sight. In the -road below were two or three army teams dragging their slow way along, -with their drivers yelling and laughing at a negro, whose mule was -careering wildly across the fenceless field. The negro had been -apparently jogging along, with a collection of plunder he had picked up -in an abandoned camp strung upon his mule, when the latter had become -alarmed at the firing and scattered his burden in every direction. The -rider was succeeding in holding on by clinging desperately to the mule's -neck. - -Si set his gun down and clambered up the side of the car. - -"What's all that shootin' about?" he demanded of Harry Joslyn. - -"I didn't mean it, sir," Harry explained. "I was just aiming my gun at -things I see along the road—just trying the sights like. A turkey- -buzzard lighted on a stump out there, and I guess I must have forgot -myself and cocked my gun, for it went off. Then Gid, seeing me miss, -tried to show he was a better shot, and he banged away and missed, too, -and then the other boys, they had to try their hands, and they belted -away, one after another, and they all missed. I guess we didn't count as -we ougther've done on the goin' forward o' the train, because we all -struck much nearer than we expected to that nigger on a mule, and scared -his mule nigh out o' his skin. We really didn't intend no harm." - -"Where did you git catridges?" demanded Si. - -"Why, that box that Alf Russell got was half full. He tried to keep 'em -all hisself, and intended to shoot 'em off, one by one, to make the rest -of us envious. Alf always was a pig in school, and never would divide -his apples or doughnuts with the other boys. But we see them almost as -quick as he did, an' Gid and me set down on him suddently, as he was -lying on the roof, and took away all his catridges, and give 'em around -to the rest o' the boys, one a-piece." - -"Are they all gone now?" - -"Yes, sir; every one shot away," answered Harry regretfully. - -Si looked through several of the boxes and at some of the guns to assure -himself of this. He gave those near him a lecture on their offense, and -then climbed down into the car and resumed his paper, while Shorty was -soon immersed again in the abstruse study of the relation of the cross- -barred designs on the back of the cards to the numbers and suits of -their faces. - -They had passed Lavergne, and were approaching Stewart's Creek, when -another startling rattle of musketry broke out, this time from the -forepart of the train. - -"Now, great Scott, what's up?" said Si angrily, as he quickly surveyed -the surrounding country. He saw that they were not attacked, and then -clambered to the top of the car, where he noticed little wreaths of -powder-smoke lingering around the squad in which were Jim Humphreys, -little Pete Skidmore and Wes. Brown. - -"What're you young whelps shootin' for?" demanded Si. They were all so -abashed at his sternness that they could not find their tongues for -reply, until little Pete piped up: - -"Why we've bin talkin' to the train men, and they said they wuz shot at -wunst, about a year ago, from that swamp back there, and we got some -catridges from them, and we thought we saw something moving in there, -though Jim Humphreys said it wuz only burned stumps that we took for -men, and them other boys back there had bin shootin' off their gunn and -tryin' 'em, and we thought we could too—" - -"You little brats," said Si; "didn't you hear my orders about firin' -before we started? If another boy shoots without my orders I'll tie him -up by the thumbs! Got any more catridges? Give me every one of 'em." - -The boys all protested that every cartridge was gone. Si assured himself -of this by examination, savagely scored the train men for giving them -ammunition and threatened trouble if any more was, and having relieved -his mind returned to his paper in the caboose-car. - -The train ran on to a switch where there was another carrying a regiment -going home on veteran furlough. Si and Shorty knew some of the men, and -in the pleasure of meeting them and in hearing all the news from the -front forgot that their boys were mingling with the others and being -filled full of the preposterous stories with which veterans delight to -stuff new recruits. Finally the whistles gave notice that the trains -would move. Si got his boys back on the cars, and renewing his caution -about taking care of themselves, holding on tightly and looking out for -overhanging branches, returned with Shorty to their car and their -occupations. - -"We're comin' to Stewart's Crick, Shorty," said Si, looking up from his -paper. "Recollect that hill ovyr there? That's where they had that -battery that the Colonel thought we wuz goin' to git. Great Scott, the -mud and briars in that old field!" "Yes," said Shorty, negligently, with -his eyes fixed on the backs of the cards. "But that's ancient history. -Say, I've got these marks down fine at last. They're just as plain as A, -B, C. You see, when that corner o' the square comes out clear to the -edge it's clubs, every time, and there's just as many spots as there is -of lines—" - -He was interrupted by a volley, apparently from every gun on the roofs -of the cars. Then a chorus of shrill, treble, boyish yells, and next -instant another volley. The two sprang to the door and looked out. Not a -sign of a rebel anywhere. Si went up one side of the car, Shorty the -other. They ran along the tops of the cars, storming at the boys, -kicking them and bumping their heads against the boards to make them -stop. When they succeeded Si sternly ordered every one of them to leave -the roofs and come down into the cars. When he had gathered them there -he demanded: - -"Now, I want to know at once what this means?" Little Pete Skidmore -again became the spokesman of the abashed crowd. - -"Why, them men back there on the switch cautioned us above all things -not to let the rebels git the drop on us when we come to that crick; -that we wouldn't see nothin' of 'em—nothin' but a low bank, behind which -they wuz hid, with their guns pokin' through the brush, but the moment -we see the bank breastwork throwed up along the crick we must let into -it. That's what it's for. The rebels throwed it up to hide behind. Them -men said that the brush back there was as full o' rebels as a hound o' -fleas, and that we must let into 'em the moment we see the bank, or -they'd git the drop on us. They had an awful time there theirselves, and -they gave us all the catridges they had left for us to use." - -"You little numbskulls," said Si; "why didn't you come to use and tell -us about this?" - -"They told us to be partickeler and say nothin' to you. Your stayin' -back there in the car showed that you didn't know nothin' about it; you -hadn't bin down this way for a long time and wasn't up to the latest -improvements, and you wuz jest as like as not to run us into a hornets' -nest; that you wuzzent our real officers, anyway, and it didn't much -matter to you what happened to us." - -"Our own sins are comin' back on us. Shorty," remarked Si. "This is a -judgment on you for the way you've filled up recruits at every chance -you got." - -"'Taint on me," said Shorty, shrugging his shoulders. "I'm not in -command. You are." - -"I shall be mighty glad when we git this outfit to Chattanoogy," sighed -Si. "I'm gittin' older every minute that I have 'em on my hands." - - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. THE FIRST SCRAPE A LITTLE INITIATORY SKIRMISH WITH THE -GUERRILLAS. - -THE train passed Shelbyville in the course of the afternoon and halted -on a switch. Tired of reading, Si was standing at the door of the car, -looking out over the country and trying to identify places they had -passed or camped at during the campaign of the previous Summer. Suddenly -his far-seeing eyes became fixed on the intervals in the trees on the -farthest hill-top. Without turning his head he called Shorty in a tone -which made that worthy lose all interest in his inevitable pack of cards -and spring to his side. Without speaking, Si pointed to the sky-line of -the eminence, against which moving figures sketched themselves. - -"Guerrillas," said Shorty. - -Si nodded affirmatively. - -"Skeetin' acrost the country to jump this train or some other," -continued Shorty. - -"This one, most likely," answered Si. - -"Yes," accorded Shorty, with an estimating glance at the direction of -the range of hills, "and'll aim at strikin' us at some bridge or deep -cut about 10 miles from here." - -"Where we'll probably git sometime after dark," assented Si. - -"Yes. Let's talk to the conductor and engineer." - -The train had started in the meanwhile, but presently the conductor came -back into the caboose. He had been a soldier, but so severely wounded as -to necessitate his discharge as incapable of further field service. - -"I hardly think there's any danger," said Conductor Madden. "Things 've -been very quiet this side of the Tennessee River ever since last -October, when Crook, Wilder and Minty belted the life out of old Joe -Wheeler down there at Farmington and Rodgersville. Our cavalry gave -theirs an awful mauling, and them that were lucky enough to escape -acrost the river have seemed purty well satisfied to stay on that side. -A hell's mint of 'em were drowned trying to get acrost the river. Our -cavalry's been patrolling the country ever since, but hasn't seen -anything of consequence. Still, it is possible that some gang has -managed to sneak acrost a blind-ford somewhere, and in hopes to catch a -train. Guerrillas are always where you find 'em." - -"Well, I'll bet a hatful o' red apples," said Si, "that them was -guerrillas that we saw, and they're makin' for this train. The rebels in -Nashville somehow got information to 'em about it." - -"Them's guerrillas," affirmed Shorty, "sure's the right bower takes the -left. None o' our cavalry's stringin' around over the hill-tops. Then, I -made out some white horses, which our cavalry don't have. It's just as -Si says, them Nashville spies 's put the rebel cavalry onto us." - -"Them cowardly, sneaking, death-deserving rebels in Nashville," broke -out Conductor Madden, with a torrent of oaths. "Every man in Nashville -that wears citizen's clothes ought to be hung on sight, and half the -women. They don't do nothing but lay around and take the oath of -allegiance, watch every move we make like a cat does a mouse, and send -information through the lines. You can't draw a ration of hardtack but -they know it, and they're looking down your throat while you're eating -it. They haint got the gravel in their craws to go out and fight -themselves, and yet they've cost us a hundred times as many lives as if -they had. Why does the General allow them to stay there? He ought to -order rocks tied to the necks of every blasted one of 'em and fling 'em -into the Cumberland River and then pour turpentine on the infernal old -town and touch a match to it. That's what I'd do if I had my way. -There's more, brimstone trouble to the acre in Nashville than in any -town on the footstool, not barring even Richmond." - -"Nashville certainly is tough," sighed Shorty. "'Specially in gamblers. -Worst tin-horn crowd that ever fumbled a deck or skinned a greeny out o' -the last cent o' his bounty. Say, Si, do you remember that tin-horny -that I cleaned out o' his whole pile down there at Murfreesboro, with -them cards that I'd clipped with a pair o' scissors, so's I'd know 'em -by the feel, and he never ketched on till his last shinplaster was gone, -and then I throwed the pack in the fire? Well, I seen him down there at -the depot smellin' around for suckers. I told him to let our boys alone -or I'd snap his neck off short. Great Jehosephat, but I wanted a chance -to git up town and give some o' them cold-deckers a whirl." - -"Well," said Conductor Madden, after some deliberation, "I believe what -you boys say. You're not the kind to get rattled and make rebels out of -cedar-bushes. All the same, there's nothing to do but go ahead. My -orders were to take this train through to Chattanooga as quick as I -could. I can't stop on a suspicion." - -"No, indeed," assented Si and Shorty. - -"There's no place to telegraph from till we get to Bridgeport, on the -Tennessee, and if we could telegraph they wouldn't pay any attention to -mere reports of having seen rebels at a distance. They want something -more substantial than that." - -"Of course they do, and very properly," said Si. "Is your engineer all -right?" - -"Game as they make 'em, and loyal as Abraham Lincoln himself," responded -the conductor. - -"Well, I believe our boys 's all right. They're green, and they're -friskier than colts in a clover field, but they're all good stuff, and I -believe we kin stand off any ordinary gang o' guerrillas. I'll chance -it, anyhow. This's a mighty valuable train to risk, but it ought to go -through, for we don't know how badly they may need it. You tell your -engineer to go ahead carefully and give two long whistles if he sees -anything dangerous." - -"I'll go and git onto the engine with him," said Shorty. - -"Wait a little," said Si. "We'll get the boys together, issue 'em -catridges and give 'em a little preparation for a light, if we're to -have one." - -The sun had gone down and the night was at hand. The train had stopped -to take on a supply of wood from a pile by the roadside. Some of the -boys were helping pitch the heavy sticks onto the engine, the rest ware -skylarking along the tops of the cars in the irrepressible exuberance of -animal spirits of boys who had had plenty to eat and were without a care -in the world. Harry Joslyn had been giving exhibitions of standing on -his head on the runningboard. Gid Mackall had converted a piece of rope -he had picked up into a lasso, and was trying to imitate the feats he -had seen performed at the last circus. Monty Scruggs, the incipient -lawyer, who was proud of his elocutionary talents, had vociferated at -the woods they were passing, "Rienzi's Address to the Romans," "The Last -Sigh of the Moor," "Absalom," "The Battle of Waterloo," and similar -staples of Friday afternoon recitations. Alf Russell, the embryonic -doctor, who sang a fine tenor, was rendering "Lily Dale" with much -impressment, and little Pete Skidmore was "skipping" the flat hill- -stones over an adjacent pond. - -"'Tention!" shouted Si. - -There was something so different in the tone from that in which Si had -before spoken, that it arrested the attention of every one of them -instantly. - -"Git your guns and fall in two ranks on that sod, there, at once," -commanded Si, in quick, curt accents. - -An impalpable something in the tones and words stilled everybody into -seriousness. This was deepened by the look they saw on Si's face. - -They snatched up their guns and hurried into line on the spot indicated, -looking into each other's countenances and into that of Si's for an -explanation of what was up. - -"Mackall and Joslyn," called Shorty from the car, "come here and take -this box of catridges." - -"Now," said Si, as they did this, "Joslyn, you and Mackall issue those -to the boys. One of you walk down in front and the other behind and give -each man two packages of catridges. You boys open the packages and put -the catridges in your catridgeboxes, bullet-end up, and the caps in your -capboxes." - -The boys followed his directions with nervous eagerness, inspired by his -words and manner, and then fixed their anxious gaze upon him for further -impartment. - -Si walked down in front, in the rear of the line, superintending the -operation. - -"Now, boys," said Si, taking his place in front and facing them, "you've -bin talkin' about guerrillas ever since we crossed the Ohio, but now -there's a prospect o' meetin' some. I hadn't expected to see any till -after we'd reached Chattanoogy, but guerrillas's never where you expect -'em." - -"Knowin' you was so anxious to see 'em, they've come up the road to meet -you," interjected Shorty. - -"It looks," continued Si, "as if they'd got news of the train and -slipped out here to take it away from us. They may attack it at any -minute after we start agin. Now, we mustn't let 'em git it. It's too -valuable to the Government to lose and too valuable to them to git. We -mustn't let 'em have it, I tell you. Now, I want you to load your guns -carefully, handle 'em very carefully after they are loaded, git back in -the cars, stop skylarkin', keep very quiet, listen for orders, and when -you git 'em, obey 'em to the letter—no more, no less." - -Watching the Bridge Burners at Work 259 - -"Can't we go back on top o' the cars, where we kin watch for 'em, and -git the first pop at 'em?" said Harry Joslyn, in a pleading tone. - -"No; that's too dangerous, and you'll lose time in gittin' together," -answered Si. "You must all come into the cars with me." - -"Sergeant," said Shorty, "let me have a couple to go on the engine with -me." - -"Le' me go. Le' me go," they all seemed to shout at once, holding up -their hands in eager school-boy fashion. - -"I can't take but two o' you," said Shorty; "more'd be in the way." - -They all pressed forward. "Count out. That's the only fair way," shouted -the boys in the center. - -"That's so," said Harry Joslyn. "Stand still till I count. Imry, Ory, -Ickery, Ann, Quevy, Quavy, Irish Navy, Filleson, Folleson, -Nicholas—Buck! That's me. I'm it!" - -He rapidly repeated the magic formula, and pronounced Gid Mackall "it." - -"He didn't count fair! He didn't count fair! He never counts fair," -protested the others; but Si hustled them into the cars and the train -started. - -It had grown quite dark. The boys sat silent and anxiously expectant on -their seats, clutching their loaded guns, held stiffly upright, and -watching Si's face as well as they could by the dim light of the single -oil lamp. Si leaned against the side of the door and watched intently. - -Only little Pete Skidmore was unrepressed by the gravity of the -situation. Rather, it seemed to spur his feet, his hands and his mouth -to nimbler activity. He was everywhere—at one moment by Si's side in the -door of the car, at the next climbing up to peer out of the window; and -then clambering to the top of the car, seeing legions of guerrillas in -the bushes, until sternly ordered back by Si. Then he would drop the -butt of his musket on the floor with a crash which would start every one -of the taut nerves to throbbing. And the questions that he asked: - -"Say, Sergeant, will the guerrillas holler before they shoot, or shoot -before they holler?" - -"Sometimes one and sometimes the other," responded Si, absently. "Keep -quiet, Pete." - -Quiet for a minute, and then: - -"Shall we holler before we shoot or shoot before we holler?" - -"Neither. Keep perfectly quiet, and 'tend strictly to your little -business." - -"I think we ought to holler some. Makes it livelier. What sort o' guns -has the guerrillas?" - -"Every kind—shot-guns, pistols, rifles, flint-locks, cap-locks—every -kind. Now, you mustn't ask me any more questions. Don't bother me." - -"Yes, sir; I won't." - -Quiet for at least five seconds. Then: - -"Have the guerrillas guns that'll shoot through the sides of the cars?" - -"Probably." - -"Then I'd ruther be on top, where I kin see something. Kin they shoot -through the sides o' the tender, and let all the water out and stop the -engine?" - -"Guess not." - -"Haven't they any real big guns that will?" - -"Mebbe." - -"Kin we plug up the holes, anyway, then, and start agin?" - -"Probably." - -"Hain't the engineer got an iron shield that he kin git behind, so they -can't shoot him?" - -"Can't he turn the steam onto 'em, and scald 'em if they try to git at -him?" - -"What'll happen if they shoot the head-light out?" - -"Why wouldn't it be a good idee to put a lot o' us on the cow-ketcher, -with fixed bayonets, and then let the engineer crack on a full head o' -steam and run us right into 'em?" - -"Great Scott, Pete, you must stop askin' questions," said Si -desperately. "Don't you see Pm busy?" - -Pete was silent for another minute. Then he could hold in no longer: - -"Sergeant, jest one question more, and then I'll keep quiet." - -"Well, what is it?" - -"If the rebels shoot the bell, won't it make a noise that they kin hear -clear back at Nashville?" - -The engine suddenly stopped, and gave two long whistles. Above the -screech they heard shots from Shorty and the two boys with him. - -"Here they are, boys," said Si, springing out and running up the bank. -"All out, boys. Come up here and form." - -As he reached the top of the bank a yell and a volley came from the -other side of the creek. Shorty joined him at once, bringing the two -boys on the engine with him. - -"We've bin runnin' through this deep cut," he explained, "and jest come -out onto the approach to the bridge, when we see a little fire away -ahead, and the head-light showed some men runnin' down on to the bank on -the other side o' the crick. We see in a moment what was up. They've -jest got to the road and started a fire on the bridge that's about a -mile ahead. Their game was to burn that bridge, and when this train -stopped, burn this one behind us, ketch us, whip us, and take the train. -We shot at the men we see on the bank, but probably didn't do 'em no -harm. They're all pilin' down now to the other bank to whip us out and -git the train. You'd better deploy the boys along the top o' the bank -here and open on 'em. We can't save that bridge, but we kin this and the -train, by keepin' 'em on the other side o' the crick. I'll take charge -o' the p'int here with two or three boys, and drive off any o' them that -tries to set fire to the bridge, and you kin look out for the rest o' -the line. It's goin' to be longtaw work, for you see the crick's purty -wide, but our guns 'll carry further'n theirs, and if we keep the boys -well in hand I think we kin stand 'em off without much trouble." - -"Sure," said Si confidently. "You watch the other side o' the bridge and -I'll look out for the rest." - -The eager boys had already begun firing, entering into the spirit of the -thing with the zest of a Fame of town-ball. Shorty took Gid Mackall and -Harry Joslyn down to the cover of some large stones, behind which they -could lie and command the approach to the other end of the bridge with -their rifles. Si took the other boys and placed them behind rocks and -stumps along the crest and instructed them to fire with as good aim as -possible at the flashes from the other side. In a minute or two he had a -fine skirmish-line in operation, with the boys firing as deliberately -and accurately as veterans. The engineer had backed the train under the -cover of the cut, and presently he and the conductor came up with guns -and joined the firing-line. - -"I say, Shorty," said Si, coming down to where that worthy was -stationed, "what d' you think o' the boys now? They take to this like a -duck to water. They think it's more fun than squirrel-huntin'. Listen." - -They heard Monty Scruggs's baritone call: - -"Say, Alf, did you see me salt that feller that's bin yellin' and -cussin' at me over there? He's cussin' now for something else. I think I -got him right where he lived." - -"I wasn't paying any attention to you," Alf's fine tenor replied, as his -rammer rang in his barrel. "I've got business o' my own to 'tend to. -There's a feller over there that's firing buckshot at me that I've got -to settle, and here goes." - -"The 200th Injianny Volunteers couldn't put up a purtier skirmish than -this," murmured Si, in accents of pride, as he raised his gun and fired -at a series of flashes on the farther bank. - -"I say, tell that engineer to uncouple his engine and bring it back up -here where the head-light'll cover the other side," said Shorty. "It'll -make the other side as light as day and we kin see every move, while -we'll be in the dark." - -"Good idee," said Si, hastening to find the engineer. - -He was none too soon. As the engine rolled up, flooding its advance with -light, it brought a storm of bullets from the other side, but revealed -three men creeping toward the other end of the bridge. Two were carrying -pine knots, and the third, walking behind, had a stick of blazing pine, -which he was trying to shield from observation with his hat. - -"Take the front man, Harry. Take the second one, Gid. I'll take the man -with the light," commanded Shorty. - -The three rifles cracked in quick succession and the three men dropped. - -"Bully, boys," ejaculated Shorty, as he reloaded. "You'll do. The 200th -Injianny's proud o' you." - -"I hit my man in the leg," said Harry, flushing with delight, as he bit -off another cartridge. "Jerusalem, I wish they'd send another one down." - -"I drawed on my man's bundle o' wood," said Gid, "and then dropped a -little, so's to git him where he was biggest and make sure o' him." - -"Well, my man's beauty's spiled forever," said Shorty. "The light flared -up on his face and I let him have it there." - -"But Linden saw another light. When beat the drums at dead of night, -Commanding fires of death to hight The darkness of her scenery," - -recited Monty Scruggs. "Gracious, I'm hit!" - -"Where?" asked Si, running up to him. - -"Through my leg," answered Monty. - -"Kin you walk?" - -"I guess so." - -"Well, make your way back to the cars and git in and lay down." - -"Not much," answered Monty determinedly. "It don't hurt much, and I'm -going to stay and see this thing out. I can tie it up with my -handkerchief." - -"Scatter again, boys," Si warned several, who had rushed up; "don't make -too big a mark for the fellers on the other side. Go back and 'tend to -your bizniss. I'll help him tie up his wound. I'm afeared, though, that -some o' the boys are runnin' out o' catridges, they have bin shootin' so -rapidly. I want a couple o' you to run back to the cars and git another -box." - -"Let me and Sandy go," pleaded little Pete Skidmore. "The big boys went -before." - -"All right; skip out. Break the lid o' the box off before you take it -out o' the car. We haven't anything here to do it with. Leave your guns -here." - -"No, we'll take 'em along," pleaded Pete, with a boyish love for his -rifle. "We mightn't be able to find 'em agin." - -The firing from the opposite bank became fitful, died down, and then -ceased altogether. Then a couple of shots rang out from far in the rear -in the direction of the train. This seemed to rouse the rebels to -another volley, and then all became quiet. The shots in the rear -disturbed Si, who started back to see what they meant, but met Pete -Skidmore and Sandy Baker coming panting up, carrying a box of cartridges -between them. - -"We got back as quick as we could," Pete explained as he got his breath. -"Just as we was coming to the train we see a rebel who was carrying a -fat-pine torch, and making for the train to set it on fire. We shot him. -Was that all right?" - -"Perfectly," said Si. "Was there any more with him?" - -"No. We looked around for others, but couldn't find none. That's what -kept up so long." - -"The Johnnies have given it up and gone," said Shorty, coming up. "I -went over to a place where I could see 'em skippin' out by the light o' -the burnin' o' the other bridge. We might as well put out guards here -and go into camp till mornin'." - -"All right," assented Si. "We've saved the train and bridge, and that's -all we kin do." - - - - - -CHAPTER XX. AFTER THE SKIRMISH WILD SHOOTING WAS ALL THAT SAVED A -SURPRISED COLORED MAN. - -THOUGH Si and Shorty were certain that the trouble was over and the -rebels all gone, it was impossible to convince the boys of this. The -sudden appearance of the guerrillas had been so mysterious that they -could not rid themselves of the idea that the dark depths beyond the -creek were yet filled with vicious foemen animated by dire intents. - -Si and Shorty gathered the boys together on the bank above the railroad -cut, had fires built, posted a few guards, and ordered the rest of the -boys to lie down and go to sleep. They set the example by unrolling -their own blankets at the foot of a little jack-oat, whose thickly- -growing branches, still bearing a full burden of rusty-brown leaves, -made an excellent substitute for a tent. - -"Crawl in. Si, and git some sleep," said Shorty, filling his pipe. "I'll -take a smoke and set up for an hour or two. If it looks worth while -then, I'll wake you up and let you take a trick o' keepin' awake. But if -everything looks all right I'll jest crawl in beside you and start a -snorin'-match." - -But neither orders nor example could calm down the nerves of boys who -had just had their first experience under fire. There was as little rest -for them as for a nest of hornets which had been rudely shaken. They lay -down at Si's order, but the next minute they were buzzing together in -groups about the fires, or out with their guns to vantage points on the -bank, looking for more enemies. Their excited imaginations made the -opposite bank of the creek alive with men, moving in masses, squads and -singly, with the sounds of footsteps, harsh commands, and of portentous -movements. - -Two or three times Shorty repressed them and sharply ordered them to lie -down and go to sleep. Then he decided to let them wear themselves out, -braced his back against a sapling near the fire, pulled out from his -pocket the piece of Maria's dress, and became lost in a swarm of -thoughts that traveled north of the Ohio River. - -He was recalled by Harry Joslyn and Gid Mackall appearing before him. - -"Say, Corpril," inquired Harry, "what's to be done with them rebels over -there at the end o' the bridge?" - -"Them that we shot?" said Shorty carelessly, feeling around for his -tobacco to refill his pipe. "Nothin'. I guess we've done enough for 'em -already." - -"Don't we do nothin' more?" repeated Harry. - -"No," answered Shorty, as he rubbed the whittlings from his plug to -powder in the hollow of his hand. - -"Just plug at 'em as you would at a crow, and then go on your way -whistlin'?" persisted Harry. - -"Certainly," answered Shorty, filling his pipe and looking around for a -sliver with which to light it. "What're you thinkin' about?" - -"I don't hardly know," hesitated Harry. "It seems awful strange just to -blaze away at men and then pay no more attention to 'em. They mayn't be -knocked out at all—only 'possumin'." - -"No 'possumin' about them fellers," said Shorty sententiously, as he -lighted his pipe. "Feller that gits an ounce o' lead from a Springfield -rifle anywhere in his carkiss don't play off nor purtend. He's got -something real to occupy his attention, if he's got any attention left -to occupy. You needn't bother any more about them fellers over there. -Their names's mud. They're now only part o' the real estate on the other -side o' the crick. They're suddently become no good for poll-tax; only -to be assessed by the acre." - -"So you're sure they can't do more harm to the bridge?" - -"No more'n the dead leaves on the banks." - -"But I thought," persisted Harry, "that when a man's killed something -had to be done—coroner's inquest, corpse got ready, funeral, preacher, -neighbors gather in, and so on." - -"Well, you needn't bother about any obsequies to them fellers over -there," said Shorty, sententiously, as he pulled away at his pipe. "You -done your whole share when you done the heavy work o' providin' the -corpses. Let anybody that wants to put on any frills about plantin' 'em. -If we have time tomorrow mornin' and nothin' better to do, we may go -over there and dig holes and put 'em in. But most likely we'll be needed -to rebuild that bridge they burnt. I'd rather do that, so's we kin hurry -on to Chattynoogy. Buzzards'll probably be their undertakers. They've -got a contract from the Southern Confedrisy for all that work. You lay -down and go to sleep. That's the first dooty of a soldier. You don't -know what may be wanted o' you tomorrow, and you should git yourselves -in shape for anything—fightin', marchin' or workin'." - -"And sha'n't we do nothin' neither to that man that we shot when he was -tryin' to set fire to the train?" asked little Pete Skidmore, who with -Sandy Baker had come up and listened to Shorty's lecture. "He's still -layin' out there where he dropped, awful still. Me and Sandy took a -piece o' fat pine and went down and looked at him. We didn't go very -close. We didn't like to. He seemed so awful quiet and still." - -"No; you let him alone," snapped Shorty impatiently. "He'll keep. Lay -down and git some sleep, I tell you. What need you bother about a dead -rebel? He ain't makin' no trouble. It's the livin' ones that need -lookin' out for." - -The boys' looks showed that they were face to face with one of the -incomprehensibilities of war. But they lay down and tried to go to -sleep, and Shorty's thoughts returned to Indiana. - -A shot rang out from the post on which he had stationed Jim Humphreys. -He was on his feet in an instant, with his gun in hand, and in the next -Si was beside him. - -"What's up?" inquired Si, rubbing his eyes. - -"Nothin', I believe," answered Shorty. "But hold the boys and I'll go -out and see." - -He strode forward to Jim's side and demanded what he had shot at. - -"I saw some men tryin' to cross the crick there," replied Jim, pointing -with his rammer in the direction of the opposite bank. - -"There, you kin see 'em for yourself." - -"I don't see no men," said Shorty, after a moment's scrutiny. - -"There they are. Don't you see that white there?" said Jim, capping his -musket for another shot. - -"That white," said Shorty contemptously, "is some water-birches. They -was there when you came on guard, for I noticed 'em, and they hain't -moved since. You seen 'em then, lookin' just as they do now. You're a -fool to think you kin see anything white in a rebel. 'Taint their -color." - -"I don't care," half whimpered Jim. "Gid Mackall, and Harry Joslyn, and -Alf Russell, and Pete Skidmore, and even Sandy Baker, have all shot -rebels, and I hain't hit none. I don't have half-a-show." - -"Be patient," Shorty consoled him. "Your three years's only begun. -You'll have lots o' chances yit. But if I ketch you shootin' at any more -white birches I'll tie you up by the thumbs." - -Shorty returned to the fire. Si bade the boys he down again, and took -his own blanket. Shorty relighted his pipe, took out his never-failing -deck of cards and began running them over. - -Wild Shooting of the Boys Saves The Surprised Colored Man. 273 - -Jim Humphreys's shot had given new restlessness to the boys. They did -not at all believe in Shorty's diagnosis of the situation. There must be -more men lurking over there whence all that murderous shooting had come -only a little while ago. Jim Humphreys was more than probably right. One -after another of them quietly slipped away from the fire with his gun -and made his way down to Jim Humphreys's post, which commanded what -seemed to be a crossing of the creek. They stood there and scanned the -opposite bank of darkness with tense expectancy. They had their ears -tuned up to respond to even the rustle of the brown, dry leaves on the -trees and the murmur of the creek over the stones. They even saw the -white birches move around from place to place and approach the water, -but Shorty's dire threat prevented their firing until they got something -more substantial. - -"There's rebels over there, sure as you're born,"' murmured Jim to them, -without turning his head to relax his fixed gaze nor taking his finger -from the trigger of his cocked gun. "Wish they'd fire a gun first to -convince that old terror of a Corpril, who thinks he kin tell where -rebels is just by the smell. I'd—" - -"Sh! Jim, I hear a hoss's hoofs," said Harry Joslyn. - -"Sh! so do I," echoed Gid Mackall. - -They all listened with painful eagerness. - -"Hoss's hoofs and breakin' limbs, sure's you're a foot high," whispered -Harry. "And they're comin' down the hill this way." - -"That's right. They're a'most to the crick now," assented Gid. "I'm -going to shoot." - -"No; I've got the right to a first shot," said Jim. "You fellers hold -off." - -Bang went Jim's gun, followed almost instantly by the others. - -"Hi, dere, boys; I's done found you at las'! Whoopee!" called out a -cheery voice from across the creek, and a man rode boldly down to the -water's edge, where the boys were nervously reloading. - -"Now, Jim Humphreys, what in blazes are you bangin' away at now?" -angrily demanded Si, striding up. "At a cotton-tailed rabbit or a -sycamore stump?" - -"The woods is full o' rebel cavalry comin' acrost the crick," gasped -Jim, as he rammed down his cartridge. "There, you kin see 'em for -yourself." - -"What foh you come dis-a-way, boys?" continued the voice of the man on -horseback. "I done los' you! I fought we done agreed to go ober by -Simpson's hill, an' I jine you dar. I went dat-a-way, an' den I hear you -shootin' ober dis-a-way, an' seed yoh fiah, and I cut acrost to git to -you. Whah'd you git so many guns, an' sich big ones? Sound like sojer -guns. I done beared dem way ober dah, an' I—" - -"Hold on, boys," sternly shouted Shorty, springing in front of them and -throwing up their guns. "Don't one o' you dare shoot! Hold up, I say! -Hello, you there! Who are you?" - -"Who's me?" said the negro, astonished by the strange voice. "I's Majah -Wilkinson's Sam, Massa Patrol. I's got a pass all right. De old Majah -done tole me I could go out coon-huntin' wid Kunnel Oberly's boys -tonight, but I done missed dem." - -"Come ashore here, boy," commanded Shorty, "and be thankful that you're -alive. You've had a mighty narrow squeak of it. Next time you go out -coon huntin' be sure there's no Yankee and rebel soldiers huntin' one -another in the neighborhood. Coons have a tough time then." - -"Yankee sojers!" gasped the negro, as he was led back to the fire, and -saw the blue uniforms. "Lawdy, massy, don't kill me. I pray, sah, don't. -I hain't done nuffin. Sho' I hain't. Massa said you'd burn me alibe if -you eber cotched me, but you won't, will you?" - -"We ain't goin' to hurt you," said Shorty. "Sit down there by the fire -and git the goose-flesh offen you." Then turning to the boys he remarked -sarcastically: - -"Fine lot o' marksmen you are, for a fact. Halfa dozen o' you bangin' -away at a hundred yards, and not comin' close enough to a nigger to let -him know you was shootin' at him. Now will you lay down and go to sleep? -Here, Si, you take charge o' this gang and let me go to sleep. I've had -enough o' them for one night." - -During the night a train came up, carrying a regiment of entirely new -troops. In the morning these scattered over the ground, scanning -everything with the greatest interest and drinking in every detail of -the thrilling events of the previous night. - -"It's just killin'," said Si to Shorty, "to watch the veteran airs our -boys are puttin' on over those new fellers. You'd think they'd fit in -every battle since Bunker Hill, and learned Gen. Grant all he knows -about tactics. Talk about the way the old fellers used to fill us up, -why, these boys lay away over everything we ever knowed. I overheard -Harry Joslyn laying it into about 40 of them. 'No man knows just what -his feelin's will be under fire until he has the actual experience,' -says he. 'Now, the first time I heard a rebel bullet whistle,' and his -face took on a look as if he was trying to recollect something years -ago." - -"Yes," laughed Shorty, "and you should hear little Pete Skidmore and -Sandy Baker lecturing them greenies as to the need o' lookin' carefully -to their rear and beware o' rebels sneakin' 'round and attackin' their -trains. Hold on. Look through this brush. There's Monty Scruggs -explainin' the plan o' battle to a crowd of 'em. He don't know we're -anywhere around. Listen and you'll hear something." - -"The enemy had reached the ground in advance of us," Monty was -elucidating, in language with which his school histories and the daily -papers had familiarized him, "and had strongly posted himself along -those hights, occupying a position of great natural strength, including -their own natural cussedness. Their numbers was greatly superior to -ours, and they had prepared a cunning trap for us, which we only escaped -by the vigilance of Corpril Elliott and the generalship of Serg't Klegg. -I tell you, those men are a dandy team when it comes to running a -battle. They know their little biz, and don't you forget it for a -minute. The enemy opened a galling fire, when Corpril Elliott gallantly -advanced to that point there and responded, while Serg't Klegg rapidly -arrayed his men along there, and the battle became terrific. It was like -the poet says: - -"'Then shook the hills with thunder riven, Then rushed the steeds to -battle driven, And louder than the bolts of heaven, Far flashed the red -artillery.'" - -"O, come off, Monty," called the more prosaic Gid Mackall; "you know we -didn't have no artillery. If we'd had, we'd a blowed 'em clean offen the -hill." - -The whistle summoned them to get aboard and move on. - - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. CHATTANOOGA AT LAST LOST IN A MAZE OF RAILROAD TRAINS. - -"WHAT'S the program?" Si inquired of the conductor, as the boys were -being formed on the bank, preparatory to entering the cars. "I s'pose -it's to go over there and put in a week o' hard work rebuildin' that -bridge. Have you got any axes and saws on the train? How long is the -blamed old bridge, anyway?" - -"Not much it ain't," responded the conductor. "If you think the army's -goin' to wait a week, or even a day, on a bridge, you're simply not up -to date, that's all. The old Buell and Rosecrans way o' doin' things is -played out since Sherman took command. Your Uncle Billy's a hustler, and -don't let that escape your mind for a minute, or it'll likely lead you -into trouble. You'll find when you get down to Chattynoogy that nobody's -asleep in daylight, or for a good part o' the night. They're not only -wide-awake, but on the keen jump. The old man kin see four ways at once, -he's always where he ain't expected, and after everybody with a sharp -stick. In Buell's time a burnt bridge 50 foot long 'd stopped us for two -weeks. Now that bridge 'll likely be finished by the time we git there. -I've just been over there, and they were layin' the stringers." - -"Why, how in the world did they manage?" asked Si. - -"O, Sherman's first move was to order down here duplicates for every -bridge on the road. He's got 'em piled up at Louisville, Nashville, -Murfreesboro and Chattynoogy. The moment a bridge is reported burned a -gang starts for the place with another bridge, and they're at work as -soon's it's cool enough to let 'em get to the abutments. I've seen 'em -pullin' away the burnin' timbers to lay new ones. They knowed at -Chattynoogy as soon's we did that the bridge was burned. The operator at -the next station must 've seen it and telegraphed the news, and they -started a bridge-gang right out. I tell you, double-quick's the time -around where old Cump Sherman is." - -"Duplicate bridges," gasped Si. "Well, that is an idee." - -"What does he mean by duplicate, Corpril?" asked Harry Joslyn to Shorty. - -"O, duplicate's something that you ring in on a feller like a cold -deck." - -"I don't understand," said Harry. - -"Why—hem—hem—duplicate's the new-fangled college word for anything that -you have up your sleeve to flatten a feller when he thinks he's got you -euchered. You want to deal the other feller only left bowers and keep -the right bowers for yourself. Them's duplicates. If you give him aces, -have the jokers handy for when you want 'em. Them's duplicates. -Duplicates 's Sherman's great lay—learned it from his old side-partner, -Unconditional Surrender Grant—just as strategy was old McClellan's. -There's this difference: Sherman always stacks the deck to win himself, -while McClellan used to shuffle the cards for the other feller to win." - -"Still I don't understand about the duplicate bridges," persisted Harry. - -"Why, old Sherman just plays doublets on the rebels. He leads a king at -'em and then plumps down an ace, and after that the left and right -bowers. They burn one bridge and he plumps down a better one instead. -They blow up a tunnel and he just hauls it out and sticks a bigger one -in its place. Great head, that Sherman. Knows almost as much as old Abe -Lincoln himself." - -"Do you say that Sherman has extra tunnels, too, to put in whenever one -is needed?" asked Harry, with opening eyes. - -"O, cert," replied Shorty carelessly. "You seen that big iron buildin' -we went into to git on the cars at Louisville? That was really a tunnel, -all ready to be shoved out on the road when it was needed. If you hadn't -bin so keen on the lookout for guerrillas as we come along you'd 'a' -seen pieces o' tunnels layin' all along the road ready for use." - -As the train dashed confidently over the newly-completed bridge the boys -gazed with intense interest and astonishment at the still smoldering -wreckage, which had been dragged out of the way to admit the erection of -the new structure. It was one of the wonders of the new, strange life -upon which they were entering. - -The marvelous impressiveness and beauty of the scenery as they -approached Chattanooga fascinated the boys, who had never seen anything -more remarkable than the low, rounded hills of Southern Indiana. - -The towering mountains, reaching up toward the clouds, or even above -them, their summits crowned with castellated rocks looking like -impregnable strongholds, the sheer, beetling cliffs, marking where the -swift, clear current of the winding Tennessee River had cut its way -through the granite walls, all had a deep fascination for them. Then, -everywhere were strong intrenchments and frowning forts, guarding the -crossings of the river or the passages through the mountains. There were -populous villages of log huts, some with canvas roofs, some roofed with -clapboards, some with boards purloined from the Quartermaster's stores. -These were the Winter quarters of the garrisons of the fortifications. -Everywhere men were marching to and fro, and long trains of army wagons -struggling through the mud of the valleys and up the steep hillsides. - -"My, what lots o' men," gasped Harry Joslyn. "We won't be once among -sich a crowd. Wonder if Sergeant Klegg and Corpril Elliott kin keep us -from bein' lost?" - -"Trust Corpril Elliott," said Gid, returning to his old partisanship of -the taller veteran. "He knows his business every time." - -"Not any better'n Sergeant Klegg," responded Harry, taking up the -gantlet for his favorite. "Long-legged men are very good in their way, -but they don't have the brains that shorter men have. Nature don't give -no man everything. What she gives to his legs she takes off his head, my -dad says." - -"That's just because you're a duck-legged snipe," answered Gid -wrathfully. "Do you mean to?" - -"Don't make any slurs at me, you spindle-legged sand-hill crane," -retorted Harry. - -This was enough. Blows came next. It was their way. Gid Mackall and -Harry Joslyn had been inseparable companions since they had begun going -to school, and they had scarcely ever let a day pass without a fight. -The moment that Si and Shorty appeared within their horizon they had -raised the issue of which was the best soldier, and made it a matter of -lively partisanship. - -Si and Shorty had been on the eager lookout for the indications of the -position of the army, for places that they could recognize, and for -regiments, brigades and divisions they were acquainted with, so they did -not at first notice the squabble. Then they pulled the boys asunder, -shook them and scolded them for their conduct. - -New emotions filled Si's and Shorty's breasts. They had been away from -their regiment so long that they were acutely homesick to be back to it. -Such is the magic of military discipline and association that their -regimental flag had become the center of their universe, and the real -people of their world the men who gathered around it. Everything and -everybody else was subsidiary to that thing of wonderful sacredness—"the -regiment." They felt like wanderers who had been away for years, and -were now returning to their proper home, friends, associations and -vocation. Once more under the Flag life would become again what it -should be, with proper objects of daily interest and the satisfactory -performance of every-day duties. They really belonged in the regiment, -and everywhere else were interlopers, sojourners, strangers in a strange -land. They now sat together and talked of the regiment as they had -formerly sat around the campfire with the other boys and talked of their -far-away homes, their fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters and -sweethearts. - -They had last seen their regiment in the fierce charge from the crest of -Snodgrass Hill. The burning questions were who had survived that -terrible day? Who had been so badly wounded as to lose his place on the -rolls? Who commanded the regiment and the companies? Who filled the non- -commissioned offices? What voices that once rang out in command on the -drill-ground, in camp and battle, were now silent, and whose would be -lifted instead? "I'm af eared the old rijimint will never fight agin as -it did at Stone River and Chickamauga," said Si mournfully. "Too many -good men gone what made the rijimint what it is." - -"Well, I don't know about that," said Shorty more hopefully. "They got -two mighty good non-commish when they promoted me and you. If they done -as well in the rest o' the promotions, the rijimint is all right. Lord -knows I'd willingly give up my stripes to poor Jim Sanders, if he could -come back; but I guess I kin yank around a squad as well as he done. -This infant class that we're takin' down there ain't up to some o' the -boys that've turned up their toes, but they average mighty well, and -after we git some o' the coltishness drilled out o' 'em they'll be a -credit to the rijimint." - -The train finally halted on a side-track in the outskirts of -Chattanooga, under the gigantic shadow of Lookout Mountain, and in the -midst of an ocean of turmoiling activity that made the eyes ache to look -upon it, and awed every one, even Si and Shorty, with a sense of -incomprehensible immensity. As far as they could see, in every -direction, were camps, forts, intrenchments, flags, hordes of men, -trains of wagons, herds of cattle, innumerable horses, countless mules, -mountains of boxes, barrels and bales. Immediately around them was a -wilderness of trains, with noisy locomotives and shouting men. Regiments -returning from veteran furlough, or entirely new ones, were disembarking -with loud cheering, which was answered from the camps on the hillsides. -On the river front steamboats were whistling and clanging their bells. - -The boys, too much awed for speech, clustered around Si and Shorty and -cast anxious glances at their faces. - -"Great Jehosephat," murmured Shorty. "They seem to be all here." - -"No," answered Si, as the cheers of a newly-arrived regiment rang out, -"the back townships are still comin' in." - -Monty Scruggs found tongue enough to quote: - -"And ships by thousands lay below, And men by nations, all were his." - -"Where in time do you s'pose the 200th Injianny is in all this freshet -of men and mules and bosses?" said Si, with an anxious brow. The look -made the boys almost terror-stricken. They huddled together and turned -their glances toward Shorty for hope. But Shorty looked as puzzled as -Si. - -"Possibly," he suggested to Si, "the conductor will take us further up -into the town, where we kin find somebody that we know, who'll tell us -where the rijimint is." - -"No," said the conductor, who came back at that moment; "I can't go no -further with you. Just got my orders. You must pile right out here at -once. They want the engine and empties in five minutes to take a load -back to Nashville. Git your men out quick as you kin." - -"Fall in," commanded Si. "Single rank. Foller me and Corpril Elliott. -Keep well closed up, for if you git separated from us goodness knows -what'll become o' you in this raft o' men." - -The passage through the crowded, busy railroad yard was bewildering, -toilsome, exciting and dangerous. The space between the tracks was -scarcely more than wide enough for one man to pass, and the trains on -either side would be moving in different directions. On the tracks that -the boys crossed trains were going ahead or backing in entire -regardlessness of them, and with many profane yells from the trainmen -for them to get out of the way and keep out. Si only kept his direction -by occasionally glancing over his shoulder and setting his face to walk -in the direction away from Pulpit Rock, which juts out from the -extremity of Lookout Mountain. - -At last, after a series of hair-breadth dodges, Si drew up his squad in -an open space where the tracks crossed, and proceeded to count them. - - - - - - - - - -SI KLEGG SI AND SHORTY, WITH THEIR BOY RECRUITS, ENTER ON THE ATLANTA -CAMPAIGN - - - -By John McElroy - - - -BOOK No. 6 - - - -PUBLISHED BY - -THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE COMPANY, - -WASHINGTON, D. C. - -SECOND EDITION - -COPYRIGHT 1915 - - -frontispiece (98K) - - - -titlepage (26K) - - - - - - -THE SIX VOLUMES SI KLEGG, Book I, Transformation From a Raw Recruit SI -KLEGG, Book II, Through the Stone River Campaign SI KLEGG, Book III, -Meets Mr. Rosenbaum, the Spy SI KLEGG, Book IV, On The Great Tullahoma -Campaign SI KLEGG, Book V, Deacon's Adventures At Chattanooga SI KLEGG, -Book VI, Enter On The Atlanta Campaign - - - - - - -CONTENTS - - -PREFACE. - -SI KLEGG - -CHAPTER I. SHORTY BEGINS BEING A FATHER TO PETE SKIDMORE - -CHAPTER II. SI AND SHORTY COME VERY NEAR LOSING THEIR BOYS - -CHAPTER III. THE PARTNERS GET BACK TO THEIR REGIMENT AT LAST - -CHAPTER IV. THE RECRUITS ARE ASSIGNED TO COMPANIES - -CHAPTER V. THE YOUNG RECRUITS - -CHAPTER VI. SI KLEGG PUTS HIS AWKWARD SQUAD THROUGH ITS FIRST DRILL - -CHAPTER VII. SHORTY'S HEART TURNS TOWARD MARIA - -CHAPTER VIII. SHORTY WRITES A LETTER TO MARIA KLEGG - -CHAPTER IX. SI TAKES HIS BOYS FOR A LITTLE MARCH INTO THE COUNTRY - -CHAPTER X. THE BOYS HAVE A COUPLE OF LITTLE SKIRMISHES - -CHAPTER XI. SHORTY GIVES THE BOYS THEIR FIRST LESSON IN FORAGING - -CHAPTER XII. THE OPENING OF THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN - -CHAPTER XIII. THE FIRST DAY OF THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN - -CHAPTER XIV. THE EVENING AFTER THE BATTLE - -CHAPTER XV. THE FIGHTING AROUND BUZZARD ROOST - -CHAPTER XVI. THE 200TH IND. ASSAULTS THE REBEL WORKS AT DAYBREAK - -CHAPTER XVII. GATHERING UP THE BOYS AFTER THE BATTLE - -CHAPTER XVIII. AN ARTILLERY DUEL - -CHAPTER XIX. SI AND SHORTY ARE PUT UNDER ARREST - -CHAPTER XX. SHORTY IS ARRAIGNED BEFORE THE COURT-MARTIAL - - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - -Little Pete Found 13 - -He Ain't No Officer 27 - -You've Lost Little Pete 51 - -Them's Our Names and Addresses 59 - -Draw Your Stomachs In. 73 - -A Letter from Maria. 81 - -Close Up, Boys. 111 - -Don't Anybody Shoot. 119 - -Mr. Yank, Don't Conjure Me. 135 - -Little Pete's Awful Rebels. 149 - -Little Pete's Horse Bolts. 168 - -Capture of Rebel Stronghold. 185 - -The Charge Thru the Abatis. 211 - -Hooray for the Old Battery. 231 - -Awful Destruction. 241 - -Shorty Before the Court-martial. 256 - - - - - - - - - -PREFACE. - -"Si Klegg, of the 200th Ind., and Shorty, his Partner," were born years -ago in the brain of John McElroy, Editor of The National Tribune. - -These sketches are the original ones published in The National Tribune, -revised and enlarged somewhat by the author. How true they are to nature -every veteran can abundantly testify from his own service. Really, only -the name of the regiment was invented. There is no doubt that there were -several men of the name of Josiah Klegg in the Union Army, and who did -valiant service for the Government. They had experiences akin to, if not -identical with, those narrated here, and substantially every man who -faithfully and bravely carried a musket in defense of the best -Government on earth had sometimes, if not often, experiences of which -those of Si Klegg are a strong reminder. - -The Publishers. - - - - - -THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE RANK AND FILE OF THE GREATEST -ARMY EVER MUSTERED FOR WAR. - - - - - -SI KLEGG - - - - - -CHAPTER I. SHORTY BEGINS BEING A FATHER TO PETE SKIDMORE. - -"Come, my boy," Si said kindly. "Don't cry. You're a soldier now, and -soldiers don't cry. Stop it." - -"Dod durn it," blubbered Pete, "I ain't cryin' bekase Pm skeered. I'm -cryin' bekase I'm afeared you'll lose me. I know durned well you'll lose -me yit, with all this foolin' around." - -"No, we won't," Si assured him. "You just keep with us and you'll be all -right." - -"Here, you blim-blammed, moon-eyed suckers, git offen that 'ere -crossin'," yelled at them a fireman whose engine came tearing down -toward the middle of the squad. "Hain't you got no more sense than to -stand on a crossin'?" - -He hurled a chunk of coal at the squad, which hastily followed Si to the -other side of the track. - -"Hello, there; where are you goin', you chuckle-headed clodhoppers?" -yelled the men on another train rushing down from a different direction. -"This ain't no hayfield. Go back home and drive cows, and git out o' the -way o' men who're at work." - -There was more scurrying, and when at last Si reached a clear space, he -had only a portion of his squad with him, while Shorty was vowing he -would not go a step farther until he had licked a railroad man. But the -engines continued to whirl back and forth in apparently purposeless -confusion, and the moment that he fixed upon any particular victim of -his wrath, he was sure to be compelled to jump out of the way of a -locomotive clanging up from an unexpected direction and interposing a -train of freight cars between him and the man he was after. - -Si was too deeply exercised about getting his squad together to pay -attention to Shorty or the jeering, taunting railroaders. He became very -fearful that some of them had been caught and badly hurt, probably -killed, by the remorseless locomotives. - -"This's wuss'n a battle," he remarked to the boys around him. "I'd -ruther take you out on the skirmish-line than through them trains agin." - -However, he had come to get some comprehension of the lay of the ground -and the movements of the trains by this time, and by careful watching -succeeded in gathering in his boys, one after another, until he had them -all but little Pete Skidmore. The opinion grew among them that Pete had -unwisely tried to keep up with the bigger boys, who had jumped across -the track in front of a locomotive, and had been caught and crushed -beneath the wheels. He had been seen up to a certain time, and then -those who were last with him had been so busy getting out of the way -that they had forgotten to look for him. Si calmed Shorty down enough to -get him to forget the trainmen for awhile and take charge of the squad -while he went to look for Pete. He had become so bewildered that he -could not tell the direction whence they had come, or where the tragedy -was likely to have happened. The farther he went in attempting to -penetrate the maze of moving trains, the more hopeless the quest seemed. -Finally he went over to the engineer of a locomotive that was standing -still and inquired if he had heard of any accident to a boy soldier -during the day. - -"Seems to me that I did hear some o' the boys talkin' about No. 47 or 63 -havin' run over a boy, or something," answered the engineer carelessly, -without removing his pipe from his mouth. "I didn't pay no attention to -it. Them things happen every day. Sometimes it's my engine, sometimes -it's some other man's. But I hain't run over nobody for nigh a month -now." - -"Confound it," said Si savagely; "you talk about runnin' over men as if -it was part o' your business." - -"No," said the engineer languidly, as he reached up for his bell-rope. -"'Tain't, so to speak, part o' our regler business. But the yard's -awfully crowded, old Sherman's makin' it do five times the work it was -calculated for, trains has got to be run on the dot, and men must keep -off the track if they don't want to git hurt. Stand clear, there, -yourself, for I'm goin' to start." - -Si returned dejectedly to the place where he had left his squad. The -expression of his face told the news before he had spoken a word. It was -now getting dark, and he and Shorty decided that it was the best thing -to go into bivouac where they were and wait till morning before -attempting to penetrate the maze beyond in search of their regiment. -They gathered up some wood, built fires, made coffee and ate the -remainder of their rations. They were all horribly depressed by little -Pete Skidmore's fate, and Si and Shorty, accustomed as they were to -violent deaths, could not free themselves from responsibility however -much they tried to reason it out as an unavoidable accident. They could -not talk to one another, but each wrapped himself up in his blanket and -sat moodily, a little distance from the fires, chewing the cud of bitter -fancies. Neither could bear the thought of reporting to their regiment -that they had been unable to take care of the smallest boy in their -squad. Si's mind went back to Peter Skidmore's home, and his mother, -whose heart would break over the news. - -The clanging and whistling of the trains kept up unabated, and Si -thought they made the most hateful din that ever assailed his ears. - -Presently one of the trains stopped opposite them and a voice called -from the locomotive: - -"Do you men know of a squad of Injianny recruits commanded by Serg't -Klegg?" - -"Yes, here they are," said Si, springing up. "I'm Serg't Klegg." - -Little Pete Found 13 - -"That's him," piped out Pete Skidmore's voice from the engine, with a -very noticeable blubber of joy. "He's the same durned old-fool that I -kept tellin' all the time he'd lose me if he wasn't careful, and he went -and done it all the same." - -"Well, here's your boy," continued the first voice. "Be mighty glad -you've got him back and see that you take care o' him after this. My -fireman run down on the cow-ketcher and snatched him up just in the nick -o' time. A second more and he'd bin mince-meat. Men what can't take -better care o' boys oughtn't to be allowed to have charge of 'em. But -the Government gits all sorts o' damn fools for $13 a month." - -Si was so delighted at getting Pete back unhurt that he did not have the -heart to reply to the engineer's gibes. - - - - - -CHAPTER II. SI AND SHORTY COME VERY NEAR LOSING THEIR BOYS. - -ALL healthy boys have a strong tincture of the savage in them. The -savage alternately worships his gods with blind, unreasoning idolatry, -or treats them with measureless contumely. - -Boys do the same with their heroes. It is either fervent admiration, or -profound distrust, merging into actual contempt. After the successful -little skirmish with the guerrillas the boys were wild in their -enthusiasm over Si and Shorty. They could not be made to believe that -Gens. Grant, Sherman or Thomas could conduct a battle better. But the -moment that Si and Shorty seemed dazed by the multitude into which they -were launched, a revulsion of feeling developed, which soon threatened -to be ruinous to the partners' ascendancy. - -During the uncomfortable, wakeful night the prestige of the partners -still further diminished. In their absence the army had been turned -topsy-turvy and reorganized in a most bewildering way. The old familiar -guide-marks had disappeared. Two of the great corps had been -abolished—consolidated into one, with a new number and a strange -commander. Two corps of strange troops had come in from the Army of the -Potomac, and had been consolidated into one, taking an old corps' -number. Divisions, brigades and regiments had been totally changed in -commanders, formation and position. Then the Army of the Tennessee had -come in, to complicate the seeming muddle, and the more that Si and -Shorty cross-questioned such stragglers as came by the clearer it seemed -to the boys that they were hopelessly bewildered, and the more depressed -the youngsters became. - -The morning brought no relief. Si and Shorty talked together, standing -apart from the squad, and casting anxious glances over the swirling mass -of army activity, which the boys did not fail to note and read with -dismal forebodings. - -"I do believe they're lost," whimpered little Pete Skidmore. "What in -goodness will ever become of us, if we're lost in this awful -wilderness?" - -The rest shuddered and grew pale at this horrible prospect. - -"That looks like a brigade headquarters over there," said Si, pointing -to the left. "And I believe that's our old brigade flag. I'm goin' over -there to see." - -"I don't believe that's any brigade headquarters at all," said Shorty. -"Up there, to the right, looks ever so much more like a brigade -headquarters. I'm goin' up there to see. You boys stay right there, and -don't move off the ground till I come back. I won't be gone long." - -As he left, the boys began to feel more lonely and hopeless than ever, -and little Pete Skidmore had hard work to restrain his tears. - -A large, heavy-jowled man, with a mass of black whiskers, and wearing a -showy but nondescript uniform, appeared. - -"That must be one o' the big Generals," said Harry Joslyn. "Looks like -the pictures o' Grant. Git into line, boys, and salute." - -"No, it ain't Grant, neither," said Gid Mackall. "Too big. Must be Gen. -Thomas." - -The awed boys made an effort to form a line and receive him properly. - -"Who are you, boys?" said the newcomer, after gravely returning the -salute. - -"We're recruits for the 200th Injianny Volunteer Infantry," answered -Harry Joslyn. "Kin you tell us where the rijimint is? We're lost. - -"Used to know sich a regiment. In fact, I used to be Lieutenant-Colonel -of it. But I hain't heared of it for a long time. Think it's petered -out." - -"Petered out!" gasped the boys. - -"Yes. It was mauled and mummixed to death. There's plenty o' -mismanagement all around the army, but the 200th Injianny had the worst -luck of all. It got into awful bad hands. I quit it just as soon's I see -how things was a-going. They begun to plant the men just as soon's they -crossed the Ohio, and their graves are strung all the way from -Louisville to Chickamauga. The others got tired o' being mauled around, -and starved, and tyrannized over, and o' fighting for the nigger, and -they skipped for home like sensible men." - -The boys shuddered at the doleful picture. - -"Who brung you here?" continued the newcomer. - -"Sarjint Klegg and Corpril Elliott," answered Harry. - -"Holy smoke," said the newcomer with a look of disgust. "They've made -non-commish out o' them sapsuckers. Why, I wouldn't let them do nothin' -but dig ditches when I was in command o' the regiment. But they probably -had to take them. All the decent material was gone. How much bounty'd -you get?" - -"We got $27.50 apiece," answered Harry. "But we didn't care nothin' for -the bounty. We—" - -"Only $27.50 apiece. Holy smoke! They're payin' 10 times that in some -places." - -"I tell you, we didn't enlist for the bounty," reiterated Harry. - -"All the same, you don't want to be robbed o' what's yours. You don't -want to be skinned out o' your money by a gang o' snoozers who're -gittin' rich off of green boys like you. Where's this Sarjint Klegg and -Corpril Elliott that brung you here?" - -"They've gone to look for the rijimint." - -"Gone to look for the regiment. Much they've gone to look for the -regiment. They've gone to look out for their scalawag selves. When you -see 'em agin, you'll know 'em, that's all." - -Little Pete Skidmore began to whimper. - -"Say, boys," continued the newcomer, "you'd better drop all idee of that -200th Injianny and come with me. If there is any sich a regiment any -more, and you get to it, you'd be sorry for it as long as you live. I -know a man over here who's got a nice regiment, and wants a few more -boys like you to fill it up. He'll treat you white and give you twice as -much bounty as you'll git anywhere's else, and he's goin' to keep his -regiment back in the fortifications, where there won't be no fightin', -and hard marches, and starvation—" - -"But we enlisted to fight and march, and—" interjected Harry. - -"Well, you want a good breakfast just now, more'n anything else, judgin' -from appearances. Come along with me and I'll git you something to eat." - -"But we waz enlisted for the 200th Injianny Volunteer Infantry, and must -go to that rijimint," protested Monty Scruggs. - -"Well, what's that got to do with your havin' a good breakfast?" said -the newcomer plausibly. "You need that right off. Then we kin talk about -your regiment. As a matter of fact, you're only enlisted in the Army of -the United States and have the right to go to any regiment you please. -Tyrannical as the officers may be, they can't take that privilege of an -American freeman away from you. Come along and git breakfast first." - -The man's appearance was so impressive, his words and confident manner -so convincing, and the boys so hungry that their scruples vanished, and -all followed the late Lieut.-Col. Billings, as he gave the word, and -started off through the mazes of the camp with an air of confident -knowledge that completed his conquest of them. - -Ex-Lieut.-Col. Billings strode blithely along, feeling the gladsome -exuberance of a man who had "struck a good thing," and turning over in -his mind as to where he had best market his batch of lively recruits, -how he could get around the facts of their previous enlistment, and how -much he ought to realize per head. He felt that he could afford to give -the boys a good breakfast, and that that would be fine policy. -Accordingly, he led the way to one of the numerous large eating houses, -established by enterprising sutlers, to their own great profit and the -shrinkage of the pay of the volunteers. He lined the boys up in front of -the long shelf which served for a table and ordered the keeper: - -"Now, give each of these boys a good breakfast of ham and eggs and -trimmings and I'll settle for it." - -"Good mornin', Kunnel. When 'd you git down here?" said a voice at his -elbow. - -"Hello, Groundhog, is that you?" said Billings, turning around. "Just -the man I wanted to see. Finish your breakfast and come out here. I want -to talk to you." - -"Well," answered Groundhog, wiping his mouth, "I'm through. The feller -that runs this shebang ain't made nothin' offen me, I kin tell you. It's -the first square meal I've had for a week, and I've et until there ain't -a crack left inside o' me that a skeeter could git his bill in. I laid -out to git the wuth o' my money, and I done it. What're you doin' down -here in this hole? Ain't Injianny good enough for you?" - -"Injianny's good enough on general principles, but just now there's too -much Abolition malaria there for me. The Lincoln satraps 've got the -swing on me, and I thought I'd take a change of air. I've come down here -to see if there weren't some chances to make a good turn, and I've done -very well so far. I've done a little in cattle and got some cotton -through the lines—enough at least to pay my board and railroad fare. But -I think the biggest thing is in recruits, and I've got a scheme which I -may let you into. You know there are a lot of agents down here from the -New England States trying to git niggers to fill up their quotas, and -they are paying big money for recruits. Can't you go out and gether up a -lot o' niggers that we kin sell 'em?" - -"Sure," said Groundhog confidently. "Kin git all you want, if you'll pay -for 'em. But what's this gang you've got with you?" - -"O, they're a batch for that blasted Abolition outfit, the 200th -Injianny. Them two ornery galoots, Si and Shorty, whose necks I ought've -broke when I was with the regiment, have brung 'em down. They're not -goin' to git to the 200th Injianny if I kin help it, though. First -place, it'll give old McBiddle, that Abolition varmint, enough to git -him mustered as Colonel. He helped oust me, and I have it in for him. He -was recommended for promotion for gittin' his arm shot off at -Chickamauga. Wisht it'd bin his cussed head." - -"But what're you goin' to do with the gang?" Groundhog inquired. - -"O, there are two or three men around here that I kin sell 'em to for -big money. I ought to make a clean thousand off 'em if I make a cent." - -"How much'll I git out o' that?" inquired Groundhog anxiously. - -"Well, you ain't entitled to nothin' by rights. I've hived this crowd -all by myself, and kin work 'em all right. But if you'll come along and -make any affidavits that we may need, I'll give you a sawbuck. But on -the nigger lay I'll stand in even with you, half and half. You run 'em -in and I'll place 'em and we'll whack up." - -"'Tain't enough," answered Groundhog angrily. "Look here, Jeff Billings, -I know you of old. You've played off on me before, and I won't stand no -more of it. Jest bekase you've bin a Lieutenant-Colonel and me only a -teamster you've played the high and mighty with me. I'm jest as good as -you are any day. I wouldn't give a howl in the infernal regions for your -promises. You come down now with $100 in greenbacks and I'll go along -and help you all I kin. If you don't—" - -"If I don't what'll you do, you lowlived whelp?" said Billings, in his -usual brow-beating manner. "I only let you into this as a favor, because -I've knowed you before. You hain't brains enough to make a picayune -yourself, and hain't no gratitude when someone else makes it for you. -Git out o' here; I'm ashamed to be seen speakin' to a mangy hound like -you. Git out o' here before I kick you out. Don't you dare speak to one -o' them boys, or ever to me agin. If you do I'll mash you. Git out." - -Si and Shorty's dismay when they returned and found their squad entirely -disappeared was overwhelming. They stood and gazed at one another for a -minute in speechless alarm and wonderment. - -"Great goodness," gasped Si at length, "they can't have gone far. They -must be somewhere around." - -"Don't know about that," said Shorty despairingly. "We've bin gone some -little time and they're quick-footed little rascals." - -"What fools we wuz to both go off and leave 'em," murmured Si in deep -contrition. "What fools we wuz." - -"No use o' cryin' over spilt milk," answered Shorty. "The thing to do -now is to find 'em, which is very much like huntin' a needle in a -haystack. You stay here, on the chance o' them comin' back, and I'll -take a circle around there to the left and look for 'em. If I don't find -'em I'll come back and we'll go down to the Provo-Marshal's." - -"Goodness, I'd rather be shot than go back to the rijimint without 'em," -groaned Si. "How kin I ever face the Colonel and the rest o' the boys?" - -Leaving Si gazing anxiously in every direction for some clew to his -missing youngsters, Shorty rushed off in the direction of the sutler's -shanties, where instinct told him he was most likely to find the -runaways. - -He ran up against Groundhog. - -"Where are you goin' in sich a devil of a hurry?" the teamster asked. -"Smell a distillery somewhere?" - -"Hello, Groundhog, is that you? Ain't you dead yit? Say, have you seen a -squad o' recruits around here—all boys, with new uniforms, and no -letters or numbers on their caps?" - -"Lots and gobs of 'em. Camp's full of 'em. More comin' in by every -train." - -"But these wuz all Injianny boys, most of 'em little. Not an old man -among 'em." - -"Shorty, I know where your boys are. What'll you give me to tell you?" - -Shorty knew his man of old, and just the basis on which to open -negotiations. - -"Groundhog, I've just had my canteen filled with first-class whisky—none -o' your commissary rotgut, but old rye, hand-made, fire-distilled. I got -it to take out to the boys o' the rijimint to celebrate my comin' back. -Le' me have just one drink out of it, and I'll give it to you if you'll -tell." - -Groundhog wavered an instant. "I wuz offered $10 on the other side." - -Shorty was desperate. "I'll give you the whisky and $10." - -"Le' me see your money and taste your licker." - -"Here's the money," said Shorty, showing a bill. "I ain't goin' to trust -you with the canteen, but I'll pour out this big spoon full, which'll be -enough for you to taste." Shorty drew a spoon from his haversack and -filled it level full. - -"It's certainly boss licker," said Groundhog, after he had drunk it, and -prudently hefted the canteen to see if it was full. "I'll take your -offer. You're to have just one swig out o' it, and no more, and not a -hog-swaller neither. I know you. You'd drink that hull canteenful at one -gulp, if you had to. You'll let me put my thumb on your throat?" - -"Yes, and I'll give you the canteen now and the money after we find the -boys." - -"All right. Go ahead. Drink quick, for you must go on the jump, or -you'll lose your boys." - -Shorty lifted the canteen to his lips and Groundhog clasped his throat -with his thumb on Adam's apple. When Shorty got his breath he sputtered: - -"Great Jehosephat, you didn't let me git more'n a spoonful. But where -are the boys?" - -"Old Jeff Billings's got 'em down at Zeke Wiggins's hash-foundry feedin' -'em, so's he kin toll 'em off into another rijimint." - -"Old Billings agin," shouted Shorty in a rage. "Where's the place? Show -it to me. But wait a minute till I run back and git my pardner." - -"Gi' me that licker fust," shouted Groundhog, but Shorty was already -running back for Si. When he returned with him he threw the canteen to -Groundhog with the order, "Go ahead and show us the place." - -By the time they came in sight of the sutler's shanty the boys had -finished their breakfast and were moving off after Billings. - -"There's your man and there's your boys," said Groundhog, pointing to -them. "Now gi' me that 'ere sawbuck. You'll have to excuse me havin' -anything to do with old Billings. He's licked me twice already." - -Shorty shoved the bill into his hand, and rushed down in front of -Billings. - -"Here, you black-whiskered old roustabout, where 're you takin' them -boys?" he demanded. - -"Git out o' my way, you red-headed snipe," answered Billings, making a -motion as if to brush him away. - -"If you don't go off and leave them boys alone I'll belt you over the -head with my gun," said Si, raising his musket. - -"You drunken maverick," answered Billings, trying to brave it out. "I'll -have you shot for insultin' and threatenin' your sooperior officer. Skip -out o' here before the Provo comes up and ketches you. Let me go on -about my business. Forward, boys." - -"Officer nothin'. You can't play that on us," said Si. "Halt, there, -boys, and stand fast." - -A crowd of teamsters, sutlers' men and other camp followers gathered -around. A tall, sandybearded man with keen, gray eyes and a rugged, -stony face rode up. He wore a shabby slouch hat, his coat was old and -weather-stained, but he rode a spirited horse. - -"Here, what's all this row about?" he asked in quick, sharp tones. - -"Keep out o' this mix," said Shorty, without looking around. "'Tain't -none o' your business. This is our party." With that he made a snatch at -Billings's collar to jerk him out of the way. - -"What, you rascal, would you assault an officer?" said the newcomer, -spurring his horse through the crowd to get at Shorty. - -He Ain't No Officer 27 - -"He ain't no officer, General," said Si, catching sight of two dim stars -on the man's shoulders. "He's tryin' to steal our recruits from us." - -"Yes, I am an officer," said Billings, avoiding Shorty's clutch. "These -men are assaultin' me while I'm on duty. I want them arrested and -punished." - -"Fall back there, both of you," said the General severely, as Si and -Shorty came to a present arms. "Sergeant, who are you, and where do you -belong?" - -"I'm Serg't Klegg, sir, of Co. Q, 200th Injianny Volunteer Infantry." - -"Who are you, Corporal?" - -"I'm Corp'l Elliott, sir, of Co. Q, 200th Injianny Volunteer Infantry." - -"Now, officer, who are you?" - -"I'm Lieut.-Col. Billings, sir." - -"Where's your shoulder-straps?" - -"I had 'em taken off this coat to git fixed. They were torn." - -"Where's your sword?" - -"I left it in my quarters." - -"Fine officer, to go on duty that way. Where do you belong?" - -Billings hesitated an instant, but he felt sure that the General did not -belong to the Army of the Cumberland, and he answered: - -"I belong to the 200th Ind." - -"That ain't true, General," Si protested. "He was fired out of the -regiment a year ago. He's a citizen." - -"Silence, Sergeant. Billings? Billings? The name of the Lieutenant- -Colonel of the 200th Ind. happens to be McBiddle—one-armed man, good -soldier. Billings? Billings? T. J. Billings? Is that your name?" - -"Yes, sir," answered Billings, beginning to look very uncomfortable. - -"Didn't you have some trouble about a bunch of cattle you sold to the -Quartermaster-General?" - -"Well, there was little difference of opinion, but—" - -"That'll do, sir. That'll do for the present. I begin to get you placed. -I thought I knew the name Billings as soon as you spoke it, but I -couldn't remember any officer in my army of that name. Now, Sergeant, -tell me your story." - -"General, me and my pardner here," began Si, "have bin home on wounded -furlough. Wounded at Chickamauga and promoted. We got orders to bring on -this squad o' recruits from Jeffersonville for our rijimint. We got in -last night and this mornin' me and my pardner started out to see if we -could find someone to direct us to the rijimint, leavin' the squad alone -for a few minutes. While we wuz gone this feller, who's bin fired out of -our rijimint and another one that he was in, come along and tolled our -boys off, intendin' to sneak 'em into another rijimint and git pay for -'em. By great good luck we ketched him in time, just before you come up. -You kin ask the boys themselves if I hain't told you the truth." - -"Good idea," said the General, in his quick, peremptory way. "You three -(indicating Si, Shorty and Billings) march off there 25 paces, while I -talk to the boys." - -Gen. Sherman, for it was the Commander of the Military Division of the -Mississippi, who, with his usual impetuous, thorough way, would -investigate even the most insignificant affair in his camps, when the -humor seized him, now sprang from his horse, and began a sharp, nervous -cross-questioning of the boys as to their names, residence, ages, how -they came there and whither they were bound. - -"You came down with this Sergeant and Corporal, did you? You were -recruited for the 200th Ind., were you? You were put under the charge of -those men to be taken to your regiment?" he asked Pete Skidmore, at the -end of the line. - -"Yes, sir," blubbered Pete. "And they are always losin' us, particularly -me, durn 'em. Spite of all I kin say to 'em they'll lose me, durn their -skins." - -"No, my boy, you sha'n't be lost," said the General kindly, as he -remounted. "Stick to our command and you'll come through all right. -Billings, you thorough-paced rascal, I want you to get to the other side -of the Ohio River as quickly as the trains will carry you. I haven't -time to deal with you as you deserve, but if I have occasion to speak to -you again you'll rue it as long as you live. There's a train getting -ready to go out. If you are wise, you'll take it. Serg't Klegg and -Corp'l Elliott, you deserve to lose your stripes for both of you leaving -your squad at the same time. See that you don't do it again. You'll find -the 200th Ind. in camp on the east side of Mission Ridge, about a mile -south of Rossville Gap. Go out this road until you pass old John Ross's -house about a half a mile. You'll find several roads leading off to the -right, but don't take any of them till you come to one that turns off by -a sweet gum and a honey-locust standing together on the banks of a -creek. Understand? A sweet gum and a honey-locust standing together on -the banks of a creek. Turn off there, go across the mountain and you'll -find your camp. Move promptly now." - -"I declare," said a big Wagonmaster, as the General galloped off, "if -that old Gump Sherman don't beat the world. He not only knows where -every regiment in his whole army is located, but I believe he knows -every man in it. He's a far-reacher, I tell you." - -"Great Jehosephat," gasped Shorty, "was that Gen. Tecumseh Sherman?" - -"As sure 's you're a foot high," replied the Wagonmaster. - -"And I told him to mind his own business," stammered Shorty. - -"Yes, and if it hadn't bin for him you'd 'a' lost us, durn it," -ejaculated little Pete Skidmore. - - - - - -CHAPTER III. THE PARTNERS GET BACK TO THEIR REGIMENT AT LAST WITH ALL -THEIR RECRUITS. - -SI AND SHORTY were too glad to get their boys back, and too eager to -find their regiment, to waste any time in scolding the derelicts. - -"Now that you boys have had a good breakfast," Si remarked with an -accent of cutting sarcasm, "at the expense of that kind-hearted -gentleman, Mr. Billings, I'm goin' to give you a pleasant little -exercise in the shape of a forced march. If you don't make the distance -between here and the other side o' Rossville Gap quicker'n ary squad has -ever made it I'm much mistaken. Shorty, put yourself on the left and -bring up the rear." - -"You bet," answered Shorty, "and I'll take durned good care I don't lose -little Pete Skidmore." - -"Now," commanded Si, getting a good lay of the ground toward the gap, -"Attention. All ready? Forward, march." - -He led off with the long march stride of the veteran, and began -threading his way through the maze of teams, batteries, herds, and -marching men and stragglers with the ease and certainty born of long -acquaintance with crowded camps. He dodged around a regiment here, -avoided a train there, and slipped through a marching battery at the -next place with a swift, unresting progress that quickly took away the -boys' wind and made them pant with the exertion of keeping up. - -In the rear was the relentless Shorty. - -"Close up, there! Close up!" he kept shouting to those in front. "Don't -allow no gaps between you. Keep marchin' distance—19 inches from back to -breast. Come along, Pete. I ain't a-goin' to lose you, no matter what -happens." - -"Sarjint," gasped flarry Joslyn, after they had gone a couple of miles, -"don't you call this purty fast marchin'?" - -"Naah," said Si contemptuously. "We're just crawlin' along. Wait till we -git where it's a little clear, and then we'll go. Here, cut acrost ahead -o' that battery that's comin' up a-trot." - -There was a rush for another mile or two, when there was a momentary -halt to allow a regiment of cavalry to go by at a quick walk. - -"Goodness," murmured Gid Mackall, as he set down the carpet-sack which -he would persist in carrying, "are they always in a hurry? I s'posed -that when soldiers wuzzent marchin' or fightin' they lay around camp and -played cards and stole chickens, and wrote letters home, but everybody -'round here seems on the dead rush." - -"Don't seem to be nobody pic-nickin' as far's I kin see," responded Si, -"but we hain't no time to talk about it now. We must git to the -rijimint. Forward!" - -Another swift push of two or three miles brought them toward the foot of -Mission Ridge, and near the little, unpainted frame house which had once -been the home of John Ross, the chief of the Cherokees. - -"Boys, there's the shebang or palace of the big Injun who used to be -king of all these mountains and valleys," said Si, stopping the squad to -give them a much needed rest. "He run this whole country, and had Injuns -to burn, though he generally preferred to burn them that didn't belong -to his church." - -"Roasted his neighbors instid o' his friends in a heathen sort of a -way," continued Shorty. - -"What was his name?" inquired Monty Scruggs. - -"John Ross." - -"Humph, not much of a name," said Monty in a disappointed tone, for he -had been an assiduous reader of dime novels. "'Tain't anything like as -fine as Tecumseh, and Osceola, and Powhatan, and Jibbeninosay, and Man- -Afraid-of-Gettin'-His-Neck-Broke. Wasn't much of a big Injun." - -"Deed he was," answered Si. "He and his fathers before him run' this -whole neck o' woods accordin' to the big Injun taste, and give the Army -o' the United States all they wanted to do. Used to knock all the other -Injuns around here about like ten-pins. The Rosses were bosses from the -word go." - -"Don't sound right, though," said Monty regretfully. "And such a shack -as that don't look like the wigwam of a great chief. 'Tain't any -different from the hired men's houses on the farms in Injianny." - -"Well, all the same, it's got to go for the scene of a cord o' dime -novels," said Shorty. "We've brung in civilization and modern -improvements and killed more men around here in a hour o' working time -than the ignorant, screechin' Injuns killed since the flood." - -"Do them rijimints look like the 200th Injianny?" anxiously inquired -Harry Joslyn, pointing to some camps on the mountain-side, where the men -were drilling and engaged in other soldierly duties. - -"Them," snorted Shorty contemptuously. "Them's only recruits that ain't -got licked into shape yet. When you see the 200th Injianny you'll see a -rijimint, I tell you. Best one in the army. You ought to be mighty proud -you got a chanst to git into sich a rijimint." - -"We are; we are," the boys assured him. "But we're awful anxious to see -jest what it's like." - -"Well, you'll see in a little while the boss lot o' boys. Every one of -'em fightin' cocks, thoroughbred—not a dunghill feather or strain in the -lot. Weeded 'em all out long ago. All straight-cut gentlemen. They'll -welcome you like brothers and skin you out of every cent o' your bounty, -if you play cards with 'em. They're a dandy crowd when it comes to -fingerin' the pasteboards. They'll be regler fathers to you, but you -don't want to play no cards with 'em." - -"I thought you said they wuz all gentlemen and would be regler brothers -to us," said Harry Joslyn. - -"So they will—so they will. But your brother's the feller that you've -got to watch clostest when he's settin' in front o' you with one little -pair. He's the feller that's most likely to know all you know about the -cards and what he knows besides. They've bin skinnin' one another so -long that they'll be as anxious to git at your fresh young blood as a -New Orleans skeeter is to sink into a man just from the North." - -"Didn't think they'd allow gambling in so good a regiment as the 200th -Ind.," remarked Alf Russell, who was a devoted attendant on Sunday -school. - -"Don't allow it. It's strictly prohibited." - -"But I thought that in the army you carried out orders, if you had to -kill men." - -"Well, there's orders and orders," said Shorty, philosophically. "Most -of 'em you obey to the last curl on the letter R, and do it with a jump. -Some of 'em you obey only when you have to, and take your chances at -improving the State o' Tennessee by buildin' roads and diggin' up stumps -in the parade ground if you're ketched not mindin'. Of them kind is the -orders agin gamblin'." - -"Shorty, stop talkin' to the boys about gamblin'. I won't have it," -commanded Si. "Boys, you mustn't play cards on no account, especially -with older men. It's strictly agin orders, besides which I'll break any -o' your necks that I ketch at it. You must take care o' your money and -send it home. Forward, march." - -They went up the road from the John Ross house until they came to that -turning off to the right by a sweet gum and a sycamore, as indicated by -Gen. Sherman, and then began a labored climbing of the rough, stony way -across Mission Ridge. Si's and Shorty's eagerness to get to the regiment -increased so with their nearness to it that they went at a terrific pace -in spite of all obstacles. - -"Please, Sarjint," begged Gid Mackall, as they halted for an instant -near a large rock, "need we go quite so fast? We're awfully anxious to -git to the regiment, too, but I feel like as if I'd stove two inches -offen my legs already against them blamed rocks." - -"I can't keep up. I can't keep up at all," whimpered little Pete -Skidmore. "You are just dead certain to lose me." - -"Pull out just a little more, boys," Si said pleasantly. "We must be -almost there. It can't be but a little ways now." - -"Close up there in front!" commanded Shorty. "Keep marchin' distance—19 -inches from back to breast. Come on, Pete. Gi' me your hand; I'll help -you along." - -"I ain't no kid, to be led along by the hand," answered Pete sturdily, -refusing the offer. "I'll keep up somehow. But you can't expect my short -legs to cover as much ground as them telegraph poles o' your'n." - -The summit of the ridge was crossed and a number of camps appeared along -the slope. - -"Wonder which one o' them is the 200th Injianny's?" said Si to Shorty. - -"I thought the 200th Injianny was so much finer rijimint than any other -that you'd know it at sight," said Harry Joslyn, with a shade of -disappointment in his voice. - -"I would know it if I was sure I was lookin' at it," answered Shorty. -"But they seem to have picked out all the best rijimints in the army to -go into camp here this side o' Mission Ridge. Mebbe they want to make -the best show to the enemy." - -"That looks like the camp o' the 200th Injianny over there," said Si, -pointing to the right, after scanning the mountain-side. "See all them -red shirts hangin' out to dry? That's Co. A; they run to red flannel -shirts like a nigger barber to striped pants." - -"No," answered Shorty; "that's that Ohio rijimint, made up o' rollin' -mill men and molders. They all wear red flannel shirts. There's the -200th Injianny just down there to the left, with all them men on extra -duty on the parade ground. I know just the gang. Same old crowd; I kin -almost tell their faces. They've bin runnin' guard, as usual, and comin' -back full o' apple-jack and bad language and desire to give the camp a -heavy coat o' red paint. Old McBiddle has tried to convince 'em that he -was still runnin' the rijimint, and his idees wuz better 'n theirs, and -there they are. There's Jim Monaghan handlin' that pick as if he was in -the last stages o' consumption. There's Barney' Maguire, pickin' up -three twigs 'bout as big as lead pencils, and solemnly carryin' 'em off -the parade ground as if they wuz fence-rails. I'll just bet a month's -pay that's Denny Murphy marchin' up and down there with his knapsack -filled with Tennessee dornicks. Denny's done that feather-weight -knapsack trick so often that his shoulders have corns and windgalls on -'em, and they always keep a knapsack packed for him at the guard-house -ready for one of his Donnybrook fair songs and dances. Mighty good boy, -Denny, but he kin git up a red-hotter riot on his share of a canteen of -apple-jack than any three men in the rijimint. That feller tied to a -tree is Tony Wilson. He's refused to dig trenches agin. O, I tell you, -they're a daisy lot." - -"Shorty," admonished Si. "You mustn't talk that way before the boys. -What'll they think o' the rijimint?" - -"Think of it?" said Shorty, recovering himself. "They've got to think of -it as the very best rijimint that ever stood in line-of-battle. I'll -punch the head of any man that says anything to the contrary. Every man -in it is a high-toned, Christian gentleman. Mind that, now, every one of -you brats, and don't you allow nobody to say otherwise." - -"No," said Si, after further study of the camps, "neither o' them 's the -200th Injianny. They've both got brass bands. Must be new rijimints." - -"Say," said Shorty, "there's a royal lookin' rooster standin' up in -front of that little house there. Looks as if the house was headquarters -for some highroller, and him doin' Orderly duty. If he knows as much as -he's got style, he knows more'n old Sherman himself. Go up and ask him." - -It was the first time in all their service that either of them had seen -a soldier in the full dress prescribed by the United States Army -regulations, and this man had clearly won the coveted detail of Orderly -by competition with his comrades as being the neatest, best-dressed man -in the squad. He was a tall, fine-looking young man, wearing white -gloves and a paper collar, with a spotless dress coat buttoned to the -chin, his shoes shining like mirrors, his buttons and belt-plates like -new gold, and his regulation hat caught up on the left side with a -feather and a gilt eagle. The front of his hat was a mass of gilt -letters and figures and a bugle, indicating his company, regiment and -State. On his breast was a large, red star. - -"Jehosephat," sighed Shorty. "I wish I had as many dollars as he has -style. Must be one of old Abe's body guards, sent out here with Grant's -commission as Lieutenant-General. Expect that red star passes him on the -railroads and at the hotels. I'd like to play him two games out o' -three, cut-throat, for it. I could use it in my business." - -"No," said the Orderly to Si, with a strong Yankee twang, "I don't know -a mite about the 200th Ind. Leastwise, I don't remember it. Everybody -down here's from Indiana, Ohio or Illinois. It's one eternal mix, like -Uncle Jed Stover's fish—couldn't tell shad, herring nor sprat from one -another. It seems to me more like a 'tarnal big town-meeting than an -army. All talk alike, and have got just as much to say; all act alike. -Can't tell where an Indiana regiment leaves off and Ohio one begins; -can't tell officer from private, everybody dresses as he pleases, and -half of them don't wear anything to tell where they belong. There wasn't -a corps badge in the whole army when we come here." - -"Corps badges—what's them?" asked Si. - -"Corps badges? Why this is one," said the man, tapping his red star. -"This shows I belong to the Twelfth Corps—best corps in the Army of the -Potomac, and the First Division—best division in the corps. We have to -wear them so's to show our General which are his men, and where they be. -Haven't you no corps badges?" - -"Our General don't have to tag us," said Shorty, who had come up and -listened. "He knows all of us that's worth knowin', and that we'll go -wherever he orders us, and stay there till he pulls us off. Our corps -badge's a full haversack and Springfield rifle sighted up to 1,200 -yards." - -"Well, you do fight in a most amazing way," said the Orderly, cordially. -"We never believed it of such rag-tag and bobtail until we saw you go up -over Mission Ridge. You were all straggling then, but you were -straggling toward the enemy. Never saw such a mob, but it made the -rebels sick." - -"Well, if you'd seen us bustin' your old friend Long-street at Snodgrass -Hill, you'd seen some hefightin'. We learned him that he wasn't -monkeyin' with the Army o' the Potomac, but with fellers that wuz down -there for business, and not to wear paper collars and shine their -buttons. He come at us seven times before we could git that little fact -through his head, and we piled up his dead like cordwood." - -"Well, you didn't do any better than we did with Early's men at Gulp's -Hill, if we do wear paper collars," returned the other proudly. "After -we got through with Johnston's Division you couldn't see the ground in -front for the dead and wounded. And none of your men got up on Lookout -Mountain any quicker'n we did. Paper collars and red stars showed you -the way right along." - -"My pardner's only envious because he hain't no paper collars nor fine -clothes," said Si, conciliatorily. "I've often told him that if he'd -leave chuck-a-luck alone and save his money he'd be able to dress -better'n Gen. Grant." - -"Gen. Grant's no great shakes as a dresser," returned the other. "I was -never so surprised in my life as one day when I was Orderly at Division -Headquarters, and a short man with a red beard, and his clothes -spattered with mud, rode up, followed by one Orderly, and said, -'Orderly, tell the General that Gen. Grant would like to see him.' By -looking hard I managed to make out three stars on his shoulder. Why, if -Gen. McClellan had been coming you'd have seen him for a mile before he -got there." - -"If Gen. Grant put on as much style in proportion to what he done as -McClellan, you could see him as far as the moon," ventured Shorty. - -"Well, we're not gettin' to the rijimint," said the impatient Si. "Le's -rack on. So long, Orderly. Come and see us in the 200th Injianny and -we'll treat you white. Forward, march!" - -"There's a couple of boys comin' up the road. Probably they kin tell us -where the rijimint is," suggested Shorty. - -The two boys were evidently recruits of some months' standing, but not -yet considered seasoned soldiers. - -"No," they said, "there is no 200th Ind. here now. It was here -yesterday, and was camped right over there, where you see that old camp, -but before noon came an order to march with three days' rations and 40 -rounds. It went out the Lafayette Road, and the boys seemed to think -they wuz goin' out to Pigeon Mountain to begin the general advance o' -the army, and wuz mightily tickled over it." - -"Gone away," said Si, scanning the abandoned camp sadly; "everybody -couldn't have gone. They must've left somebody behind that wasn't able -to travel, and somebody to take care o' 'em. They must've left some -rijimintal stuff behind and a guard over it." - -"No," the boys assured him. "They broke up camp completely. All that -wasn't able to march was sent to the hospital in Chattynoogy. Every mite -of stuff was loaded into wagons and hauled off with 'em. They never -expected to come back." - -"That camp ground don't look as it'd bin occupied for two weeks," said -Shorty. "See the ruts made by the rain in the parade ground and the -general look o' things. I don't believe the rijimint only left there -yisterday. It don't look as if the 200th Injianny ever had sich a camp. -It's more like one o' the camps o' them slack-twisted Kaintucky and -Tennessee rijimints." - -"If Oi didn't belave that Si Klegg and Sharty was did intoirely, and up -home in Injianny, Oi'd be sure that was their v'ices," said a voice from -the thicket by the side of the road. The next instant a redheaded man, -with a very distinct map of Ireland in his face, leaped out, shouting: - - -041 (105K) - - -"Si and Sharty, ye thieves of the worruld, whin did ye get back, and how -are yez? Howly saints, but Oi'm glad to see yez." - -"Jim Monaghan, you old Erin-go-bragh," said Shorty, putting his arm -around the man's neck, "may I never see the back o' my neck, but I'm -glad to see you. I was just talkin' about you. I thought I recognized -you over there in one of the camps, at your favorite occupation of extry -dooty, cleanin' up the parade ground." - -"No; Oi've not bin on extry doty for narely two wakes now, but it's -about due. But here comes Barney Maguire and Con Taylor, Tony Wilson and -the rest iv the gang. Lord love yez, but they'll be surely glad to see -yez." - -The others came up with a tumultuous welcome to both. - -"Where's the camp?" asked Si. - -"Jist bey ant—jist bey ant them cedars there—not a musket-shot away," -answered Jim, pointing to the place. - -"What'd you mean, you infernal liars, by tellin' us that the rijimint -was gone?" said Shorty, wrathfully to the men whom he had met, and who -were still standing near, looking puzzled at the demonstrations. - -"Aisy, now, aisy," said Jim. "We're to blame for that, so we are. Ye -say, we wint over by Rossville last night and had a bit av a shindy and -cleaned out a sutler's shop. We brought away some av the most illegant -whisky that iver wet a man's lips, and hid it down there in the gulch, -where we had jist come back for it. We sane you comin' and thought yez -was the provo-guard after us. Ye say ye stopped there and talked to that -peacock at the Provo-Marshal's quarters, and we thought yez was gittin' -instructions. We sint these rookies out, who we thought nobody'd know, -to give you a little fairy story about the rijimint being gone, to throw -you off the scint, until we could finish the liquor." - -"Yes, I know," laughed Shorty, "after you'd got the budge down you -didn't care what happened. You're the same old brick-topped Connaught -Ranger." - -"You and Si come down into the gulch and jine us." - -"Can't think of it for a minute," said Shorty with great self-denial. -"Don't speak so loud before these boys. They're recruits for the -rijimint. We must take 'em into camp. We'll see you later." - - - - - -CHAPTER IV. THE RECRUITS ARE ASSIGNED TO COMPANIES. - -THE strangest feeling possessed Si and Shorty when once in the camp of -their old regiment, and after the first hearty welcome of their comrades -was over. - -There was a strangeness about everything that they could not comprehend. - -It was their regiment—the 200th Ind.; it was made up of the same -companies, with the great majority of the men the same, but it was very -far from being the 200th Ind. which crossed the Ohio River in September, -1862. - -Marvelous changes had been wrought by 18 months' tuition in the iron -school of war, in the 10 separate herds of undisciplined farmer boys -which originally constituted the regiment. Yellow, downy beards appeared -on faces which had been of boyish smoothness when the river was crossed, -but this was only one of the minor changes. There was an alertness, a -sureness, a self-confidence shining from eyes which was even more -marked. Every one carried himself as if he knew precisely what he was -there for, and intended doing it. There was enough merriment around -camp, but it was very different from the noisy rollicking of the earlier -days. The men who had something to do were doing it with systematic -earnestness; the men who had nothing to do were getting as much solid -comfort and fun as the situation afforded. The frothy element among -officers and men had been rigorously weeded out or repressed. All that -remained were soldiers in the truest sense of the word. The change had -been very great even since the regiment had lined up for the fearful -ordeal of Chickamauga. - -"Did you ever see a gang o' half-baked kids get to be men as quick as -these boys?" Si asked Shorty. "Think o' the awkward squads that used to -be continually fallin' over their own feet, and stabbing theirselves -with their own bayonets." - -"Seems so," answered Shorty, "but I don't know that they've growed any -faster'n we have. Walt Slusser, who's bin Orderly at Headquarters, says -that he heard Capt. McGillicuddy tell Col. McBiddle that he'd never seen -men come out as me and you had, and he thought we'd make very effective -noncommish." - -"Probably we've all growed," Si assented thoughtfully. "Just think o' -McBiddle as Lieutenant-Colonel, in place o' old Billings. Remember the -first time we saw McBiddle to know him? That time he was Sergeant o' the -Guard before Perryville, and was so gentle and soft-spoken that lots o' -the boys fooled themselves with the idee that he lacked sand. Same -fellers thought that old bellerin' bull Billings was a great fightin' -man. What chumps we all wuz that we stood Billings a week." - -"Wonder if I'm ever goin' to have a chanst for a little private sociable -with Billings? Just as I think I'm goin' to have it, something -interferes. That feller's bin so long ripe for a lickin' that I'm afraid -he'll be completely spiled before my chanst comes." - -"But I can't git over missin' so many familiar voices in command, and -hearin' others in their places," said Si. "That battalion drill they wuz -havin' as we come in didn't sound like our rijimint at all. I could -always tell which was our rijimint drillin' half a mile away by the -sound of the voices. What a ringin' voice Capt. Scudder had. It beat the -bugle. You could hear him sing out, 'Co. C, on right, into line! -Forward, guide right—March!' farther'n you could the bugle. The last -time I heard him wuz as we wuz' going up Snodgrass Hill. A rebel bullet -went through his head just as he said, 'March!' Now, Lieut. Scripps is -in command o' Co. C, and he's got a penny-whistle voice that I can't git -used to." - -"Lieut. Scripps's a mighty good man. He'll take Co. C as far as Capt. -Scudder would." - -"I know that Scripps's all right. No discount on him. But it don't seem -natural, that's all. Every one o' the companies except ours has a new -man in command, and in ours Capt. McGillicuddy's voice has got a -different ring to it than before Chickamaugy." - -"Practicin' to command the battalion," suggested Shorty. "You know he'll -be Major if McBiddle's made a full Kurnel." - -"That reminds me," said Shorty, "that our squad o' recruits'll probably -fill up the rijimint so's to give McBiddle his eagle. They'll be 'round -presently to divide up the squad and assign 'em to companies. As all the -companies is about equally strong, they'll divide 'em equally—that'll -make six and one-half boys to each company. Capt. McGillicuddy bein' the -senior Captain, is to have first choice. We want to pick out the best -six and one-half for our company and put 'em in one squad at the right -or left, and give the Captain the wink to choose 'em." - -"If we do it's got to be done mighty slick," said Si. "They're all -mighty good boys, and spunky. They'll all want to go with us, and if -they find out we've made any choice they'll never forgive us. I'd a'most -as soon have one six boys as another, yit if I had to pick out six I -believe I'd take Harry Joslyn, Gid Mackall, Alf Russell, Monty Scruggs, -Jim Humphreys and Sandy Baker." - -"And Pete Skidmore," added Shorty. "We've got to take special care o' -that little rat. Besides, I want to. Somehow I've took quite a fancy to -the brat." - -"Yes, we must take little Pete," assented Si. "The proportion's six and -one-half to a company. He 'll pass for the half man. But it won't do to -let him know it. He thinks he's as big as any man in the rijimint. But -how're we goin' to fix it not to let the other boys know that we've -picked 'em out?" - -"I'll tell you what we'll do," said Shorty, the man of many wiles. "When -the boys are drawed up in line and Capt. McGillicuddy goes down it to -pick 'em out, you stand at attention, two paces in front, facin' 'em and -lookin' as severe and impartial as a judge on the bench. I'll stand -behind you with my leg against your'n, this way, and apparently fixing -my gun-lock. When Cap comes in front o' one that we want, yo give me a -little hunch with your leg, and I'll make the lock click." - -"Splendid idee," said Si. "I'll go and post the Cap while you git the -boys into line." - -When Shorty returned to the squad he found them in feverish excitement -about the distribution to the different companies. As he and Si had -apprehended, all were exceedingly anxious to go with them into Co. Q, -which Si and Shorty had unwittingly impressed upon them was the crack -company of the regiment, and contained the very cream of the men. To be -assigned to any other company seemed to them, if not an actual -misfortune, a lack of good luck. - -"Nonsense," Shorty replied to their eager entreaties; "all the companies -in the 200th Injianny is good, prime, first-class—better'n the companies -in ary other rijimint. You're playin' in great luck to git into any one -o' 'em, I tell you. You might've got into one o' 'em rijimints that're -back there at Nashville guardin' fortifications, or one o' 'em that lost -their colors at Chickamaugy. I'd ruther be the tail end o' the 200th -Injianny, than the Drum Major o' any other." - -"That's all right," they shouted. "We're glad we're in the 200th -Injianny, but we want to be in Co. Q." - -"Well, you can't all be in Co. Q. Only six and one-half of you. The -rest's got to go to other companies." - -"Say, Corpril," spoke up Harry Joslyn, "you'll see that I git in, won't -you? You know I shot that rebel at the burnt bridge." - -"And didn't I shoot one, too?" put in Gid Mackall. "Just as much as you -did. They want tall men in the company, don't they, Corpril? Not little -runts." - -"And didn't I watch the crossing down there at the burnt bridge?" -pleaded Jim Humphreys. - -"And git scared to death by a nigger huntin' coons," laughed the others. - -"Who kept the rebel from gittin' back to the train and settin' it on -fire, but me and Sandy Baker?" piped up little Pete Skidmore. "Who got -lost, and nearly killed by a locomotive. Don't that count for nothin'?" - -You've Lost Little Pete 51 - -"Boys," said Shorty, leaning on his musket, and speaking with the utmost -gravity, "this's a great military dooty and must be performed without -fear, favor nor affection. I'd like to have you all in Co. Q, but this's -a thing 'bout which I hain't got no say. There's a great many things in -the army 'bout which a Corpril hain't as much inflooence as he orter -have, as you'll find out later on. Here comes the Captain o' Co. Q, who, -because o' his rank, has the first pick o' the recruits. He's never seen -you before, and don't know one o' you from Adam's off-ox. He has his own -ideas as to who he wants in the company, and what he says goes. It may -be that the color o' your hair'll decide him, mebbe the look in your -eyes, mebbe the shape o' your noses. 'Tention! Right dress! Front! -Saloot!" - -Capt. McGillicuddy came down at the head of the company officers of the -regiment, and took a comprehensive survey of the squad. - -"Fine-looking lot of youngsters," he remarked. "They'll make good -soldiers." - -"Every one o' them true-blue, all wool and a yard wide. Captain," said -Si. - -"You'll play fair, now, Captain, won't you, and choose for yourself?" -said Capt. Scripps. "I've no doubt they're all good boys, but there's a -choice in good boys, and that Sergeant of yours has learned where the -choice is. You let him stay back, while you go down the line yourself." - -"Certainly," replied Capt. McGillicuddy. "Serg't Klegg, stay where you -are." - -Si saluted and took his position, facing the line, with a look of calm -impartiality upon his face. Shorty turned around and backed up to him so -that the calves of their legs touched, and began intently studying his -gunlock. - -Capt. McGillicuddy stepped over to the right of the line stopped in -front of Harry Joslyn and Gid Mackall. Shorty full-cocked his gun with -two sharp clicks. - -"You two step forward one pace," said Capt. McGillicuddy to the two -radiant boys, who obeyed with a jump. The Captain walked on down the -line, carefully scrutinizing each one, but did not stop until Shorty's -gun clicked twice, when he was in front of Alf Russell and Monty -Scruggs. - -"Step forward one pace," he commanded. - -He proceeded on down the line until he came in front of Jim Humphreys -and Sandy Baker, when Shorty's gun clicked again. - -"You two step forward one pace," he commanded. "Gentleman, I've got my -six. The rest are yours." - -"But you hain't got me. You've lost me," screamed Pete Skidmore, -dismayed at being separated from Sandy Baker. Shorty's gun clicked -again. - -"I believe that there is a fraction of a half a man to be distributed -around," the Captain said, turning to the other officers. "We agreed to -draw cuts for that choice. But as that's the smallest boy in the lot -I'll take him for my fraction. I think that's fair. Step forward, there, -you boy on the left." - -"All right Captain," laughed Capt. Scripps. "You've got the pick of the -men, and I'm glad of it. - -"I know you have, for I've been watching that Corporal of yours. I know -him of old. I've played cards too often with Shorty not to keep my eye -on him whenever he is around. I saw through that gun-lock trick." - -"The trouble with you fellows," responded Capt. McGillicuddy, "is that -you are constantly hunting around for some reason rather than the real -one for Co. Q being always ahead of you. It isn't my fault that Co. Q is -the best company in the regiment. It simply comes natural to the men -that make up the company. You gentlemen divide up the rest among you, -and then come down to the sutler's and we'll talk the matter over. -Serg't Klegg, take these men down to the company and have the Orderly -provide for them." - -"Hello, awful glad to see you back—and you, too, Shorty," said the busy -Orderly-Sergeant, speaking in his usual short, snappy sentences, without -using any more words than absolutely necessary. "We need you. Short of -non-commish. Two Sergeants off on detached duty and two Corporals in -hospital. Being worked for all we're worth. Both of you look fine. Had a -nice, long rest. In great shape for work. Pitch in, now, and help me. -First, let's get the names of these kids on the roll. Humphreys—we've -got two other Humphreys, so you'll answer to Humphreys, 3d. - -"But I don't want to be with the Humphreys, sir," broke in Jim. "Me and -Monty Scruggs—" - -"Hold your tongue," said the Orderly sharply. "Don't interrupt me. If -you speak when you're spoken to you'll do all the talking expected of -you. - -"Joslyn, you're after Jones, 3d. M—M—Mackall, you come after Lawrence." - -"But you've put me after Joslyn," protested Gid. "He's never ahead of -me." - -"Shut up," answered the Orderly. "I do the talking for this company. -Russell, Scruggs, Skidmore; there, I've got 'em all down. Si, go down -toward Co. A and find Bill Stiles and walk him up to the guard-tent and -leave him there to cool off. He's got his hide full of coffin varnish -somewhere, and of course wants to settle an old score with that Co. A -man, who'll likely knock his head off if he catches him. Shorty, go back -there to the cook tent and shake up those cooks. Give it to them, for -they're getting lazier every day. I want supper ready as soon's we come -off dress parade. Here, you boys, trot along after me to the -Quartermaster's tent, and draw your blankets, tents, haversacks and -canteens. Shorty, as soon's you're through with the cooks, go to the -left of the company and start to fixing up a place for these boys' -tents. Si, get back as soon's you can, for I want you to take the squad -down after rations. Then you'll have to relieve Jake Warder as Sergeant -of the Guard, for Jake's hardly able to be around." - -The Orderly strode off toward the Quartermaster's tent at such a pace -that it gave the boys all they could do to keep up with him. Arriving -there he called out sharply to the Quartermaster-Sergeant: - -"Wes, give me seven blankets." - -That official responded by tossing the required number, one after -another, counting them as he did so. As the Orderly caught them he -tossed them to the boys, calling their names. Gid Mackall happened to be -looking at a battery of artillery when his name was called, and received -the blanket on the back of his neck, knocking him over. - -"'Tend to your business, there; don't be gawking around," said the -Orderly sternly. "Now, Wes, seven halves of pup-tents." - -These were tossed and counted the same way. Then followed canteens, -haversacks and tin plates and cups. - -"Now, boys, there's your kits. Give you your guns tomorrow. Hurry back -to the company street and set up those tents on railroad time, for it's -going to rain. Jump, now." - -When they reached Shorty he hustled them around to pitch their tents, -but he was not fast enough to please the Orderly, who presently -appeared, with the remark: - -"Cesar's ghost. Shorty, how slow you are. Are you going to be all night -getting up two or three tents? Get a move on you, now, for there's a -rain coming up, and besides I want you for something else as soon's -you're through with this?" - -"Who is that man, Corpril?" asked Monty Scruggs, as the Orderly left. - -"That's the Orderly-Sergeant of Co. Q." - -"Orderly-Sergeant?" repeated Monty dubiously. "Who's he? I've heard of -Captains, Majors, Colonels and Generals, but never of Orderly-Sergeants, -and yit he seems to be bigger'n all of 'em. He has more to say, and does -more orderin' around than all of 'em put together. He even orders you -and Sarjint Klegg. Is he the biggest man in the army?" - -"Well, SO far's you're concerned and to all general purposes he is. You -needn't pay no partickler attention as a rule to nobody else, but when -the Orderly speaks, you jump, and the quicker you jump the better it'll -be for you. He don't draw as much salary, nor put on as many frills as -the bigger fellers, but you hain't nothin' to do with that. You kin find -fault with the Captain, criticize the Kurnel, and lampoon the General, -but you don't want to give the Orderly no slack. He's not to be fooled -with. Russell, run up there and snatch that spade to dig ditches around -these tents." - -"When I enlisted," Monty confided to Alf Russell, "I thought I'd do my -best to become a Captain or a General. Now, I'm dead anxious to be an -Orderly-Sarjint." - - - - - -CHAPTER V. THE YOUNG RECRUITS ARE GIVEN AN INITIATION INTO ARMY LIFE. - -BY the time Shorty had gotten the boys fairly tented, he was ordered to -take a squad and guard some stores at the Division Quartermaster's. Si, -instead of going on camp-guard, had to go out to the grand guard. When -he came back the next morning the Orderly-Sergeant said to him: - -"See here, Si, you've got to take that squad of kids you brung into your -particular charge, and lick 'em into shape. They need an awful sight of -it, and I hain't got any time to give 'em. I've something else to do -besides teaching an infant class. I never was good at bringing children -up by hand, anyway. I ain't built that way. I want you to go for them -young roosters at once, and get 'em into shape in short meter. Marching -orders may come any day, and then we want everybody up and dressed. -There'll be no time for foolishness. Those dratted little rats were all -over camp last night, and into more kinds of devilment than so many pet -crows. I've been hearing about nothing else this morning." - -"Why," said Si, "I supposed that they was too tired to do anything but -lay down and go to sleep. What'd they do?" - -"Better ask what they didn't do," replied the Orderly. "They done -everything that a passel o' impish school boys could think of, and what -they couldn't think of them smart Alecks down in the company put 'em up -to. I'm going to put some o' them smarties through a course o' sprouts. -I like to see boys in good spirits, and I can enjoy a joke with the next -man, but there's such a thing as being too funny. I think a few hours o' -extry fatigue duty will reduce their fever for fun." - -"Why, what'd they do?" repeated Si. - -"Well, in the first place, they got that Joslyn and Mackall to mark a -big number 79 on their tents, and then put the same, with their names, -on a sheet of paper, and take it up to the Captain's tent. - -"The Captain was having a life-and-death rassle with Cap Summerville -over their eternal chess, when he's crosser'n two sticks, and liable to -snap your head off if you interrupt him. 'Hello, what do you want? -What's this?' says he, taking the paper." - -Them's Our Names and Addresses 59 - -"'Them's our names and addresses,' says the brats, cool as cucumbers. -Thought we ought to give 'em to you, so's you'd know where to find us, -in case you wanted us in a hurry, say, at night.' - -"The blazes it is,' says Cap, and Cap Summerville roared. 'You get back -to your quarters quick as you can run. Don't worry about my not finding -you when I want you. It's my business to find you, and I've got men to -help me do it. I'll find you sometime in a way that'll make your hair -stand up. Get out, now, and never come around my tent with any such -blamed nonsense as that.' - -"And Cap Somerville took advantage of the break to snap up Cap's queen, -which made him hotter'n ever. - -"When the boys got back they found them smart Alecks, Bob Walsh and Andy -Sweeney, waiting for 'em, and they consoled 'em, saying, That's just the -way with that old bull-head. Never'll take no good advice from nobody -about running' the company. Thinks he knows it all. You see how he runs -the company. He haint got the addresses o' half his men this minnit, and -don't know where they are. That's the reason so many o' our letters from -home, and the good things they send us, never reach us. He ought to keep -a regler directory, same as in the other companies.'" - -"Then some o' them smarties found out that Scruggs was stuck on his -spouting. Seems that he was the star declaimer in his school. They laid -it in to him that I was soft on hearing poetry spouted, especially after -night, when the moon was up, and everything quiet in camp, and that I -was particularly tender on 'Bingen on the Rhine.' You know that if there -is anything I'm dead sore on it's that sniveling rot. There used to be a -pasty-faced boy in school that'd wail that out, and set all the girls to -bawling. Then they gave us an entertainment just before we left, and all -the girls were there, and Pasty-Face he must be the star attraction. He -wailed out his condemned old There-was-a-soldier-of-the Legion—laying-i- -n-Algiers, and all the girls looked at us as if we were already dead, -and they'd better look out for new beaux. My own particular geranium did -not lose any time, but married another feller before we got to Stone -River. That made me hate the blasted caterwaul worse'n ever. Then that -white-eyed, moon-struck Alfonso used to be yowling it at every chance, -until he went to the hospital, and he got all the rest so that they were -sputtering rags and tags of it. But I've been sorer than a bile on the -condemned sick calfishness ever since I brung my chum Jim Bridgewater -off the field at Chickamauga, and watched him die as the moon rose, back -there at McFarland Gap. Well, what do these smarties do but fill up -Scruggs with the idea that the best way to make himself forever solid -with me was to stroll down close to my tent and casually let off 'Bingen -on the Rhine' in his best style. I'd just got down to work on them pesky -pay-rolls, having kept Monaghan two days in the guard-house, so's to be -sure that he'd be sober enough to help me—and you know Monaghan's -lightning with the pen when he's sober—when that possessed sap-sucker -Scruggs began blatting out 'Bingen on the Rhine' till you could hear him -down to the Colonel's quarters. It made me so mad that I knocked over -the ink as I jumped up, and spoiled the triplicate rolls that we'd got -about half made out. I snatched up a club to simply mash the bawling -brat, but they got him away before I could reach 'im. They explained to -Scruggs afterward that I was subject to fits whenever the moon was in -her last quarter, and they'd forgotten to look at the almanac that -evening. O, but I'll soak 'em for that yet." - -"Trouble is," said Si, laughing, "the boys've bin layin' around doin' -nothin' too long. They're fuller o' devilment than a dog is of fleas." - -"But I haint told you half," continued the Orderly-Sergeant. "Them -smarties were quick to find out that Alf Russell and Jim Humphreys -leaned strongly toward religion, and they filled 'em with the idea that -Cap McGillicuddy was a very devout man, and held family devotions every -evening in his tent, in which his company joined." - -"Great goodness," gasped Si. "They never heard Cap's remarks when we -balked on a right wheel in company column." - -"Well," continued the Orderly, "Cap had been waxed by Cap Summerville -two games hand-running, and they were nip-and-tuck on the third, and -just as impatient and cross as they always are when they're neck-and- -neck in the last heat. The tent-flap raised, and in walked Russell and -Humphreys soft and quietlike, as if they were going into the sitting- -room for evening prayers. They had their caps in their hands, and didn't -say anything but brushed their hair back and took their seats in the -first place they could find, which happened to be Cap's cot. Cap didn't -notice 'em till after Cap Summerville had caught his queen and then -checkmated him in two moves. You know how redhot Cap gets when he loses -a game of chess, particularly to Cap Summerville, who rubs it in on him -without mercy. - -"Cap looked at the boys in astonishment, and then snapped out: 'Well, -what do you boys want?' 'We've just come in for evening prayers,' says -they, mild as skimmed milk. 'Evening what?' roared the Cap. 'Evening -prayers,' says they. 'Don't you have family devotion every evening? Cap -Summerville couldn't hold in any longer, and just roared, and the -fellers outside, who'd had their ears against the canvas listening to -every word, they roared too. Cap was madder'n a July hornet, and cussed -till the ridgepole shook. Then he took the two boys by the ears and -marched 'em out and says: 'You two brats go back to your tents and stay -there. When I want you to come to my tent I'll send for you, and you'll -wish I hadn't. You'll do praying enough if you're on hand when the -church call's sounded. You'll be mightily different from the rest of my -company if you don't prefer going on guard to church. Get, now!'" - -"Now the Captain oughtn't to say that about the company," protested Si. -"I for one go to church every chance I get." - -"O, yes, you do," sneered the Orderly-Sergeant. "Who was it, I'd like to -know, that sent word back to the boys in the rear to steal the -Chaplain's horse, and keep him hid for a day or two so's he couldn't get -up and hold services, because you boys wanted to go fishing in the -Tennessee River?" - -"Yes, I did," Si confessed; "but it was because the boys begged me to. -We'd just got there, and it looked as if the biting was good, and we -probably wouldn't stay there longer'n over Sunday." - -"Well, I ain't done yet," continued the Orderly-Sergeant. "That little -snipe, Pete Skidmore—" - -"Good gracious, he wasn't lost again, was he?" gasped Si. - -"That's just what he was, the little runt, and we had the devil's own -time finding him. What in Sam Hill did the Captain take him for, I'd -like to know? Co. Q aint no nursery. Well, the bugler up at Brigade -Headquarters blowed some sort of a call, and Skidmore wanted to know -what it meant. They told him that it was an order for the youngest man -in each company to come up there and get some milk for his coffee -tomorrow morning, and butter for his bread. There was only enough issued -for the youngest boys, and if he wanted his share he'd have to get a big -hustle on him, for the feller whose nose he'd put out o' joint 'd try -hard to get there ahead o' him, and get his share. So Skidmore went off -at a dead run toward the sound of the bugle, with the boys looking after -him and snickering. But he didn't come back at roll-call, nor at tattoo, -and the smart Alecks begun to get scared, and abuse each other for -setting up a job on a poor, innocent little boy. Osc Brewster and Ol -Perry, who had been foremost in the trick had a fight as to which had -been to blame. Taps come, and he didn't get back, and then we all became -scared. I'd sent Jim Hunter over to Brigade Headquarters to look for -him, but he came back, and said they hadn't seen anything of him there. -Then I turned out the whole company to look for him. Of course, them -too-awfully smart galoots of Co. A had to get very funny over our -trouble. They asked why we didn't get the right kind of nurses for our -company, that wouldn't let the members stray out of their sight? Why we -didn't call the children in when the chickens went to roost, undress -'em, and tuck 'em in their little beds, and sing to 'em after they'd -said 'Now I lay me down to sleep?' I stood it all until that big, -hulking Pete Nasmith came down with a camp-kettle, which he was making -ring like a bell, as he yelled out, 'Child lost! Child lost!' Behind him -was Tub Rawlings singing, 'Empty's the cradle, baby's gone.' Then I -pulled off my blouse and slung it into my tent, and told 'em there went -my chevrons, and I was simply Scott Ralston, and able to lick any man in -Co. A. One o' their Lieutenants came out and ordered them back to their -quarters, and I deployed the company in a skirmish-line, and started 'em -through the brush toward Brigade Headquarters. About three-quarters o' -the way Osc Brewster and Ol Perry, when going through a thicket, heard a -boy boo-hooing. They made their way to him, and there was little -Skidmore sitting on a stump, completely confused and fagged out. He'd -lost his way, and the more he tried to find it the worse he got turned -around. They called out to him, and he blubbered out: 'Yes, it's me; -little Pete Skidmore. Them doddurned fools in my company 've lost me, -just as I've bin tellin' 'em right along they would, durn 'em.' Osc and -Ol were so tickled at finding him that they gathered him up, and come -whooping back to camp, carrying him every step of the way." - -"Well, I declare to gracious," ejaculated Si. "But there's one left yet. -Didn't anything happen to Sandy Baker?" - -"O, yes," groaned the Orderly. "He had to be in it, too. He took -advantage of the tumult to fall into the company well. We didn't know -anything about it till we come back from hunting Skidmore. By that time -he was so chilled that he could hardly holler any more, and his teeth -chattered like a nigger minstrel's bones. I'd got a can of brandied -peaches down at the sutler's, and it took all the brandy to bring him -around, and I had nothing left but the peaches. Now, while I like a -little variety in camp-life as well as the next man, I don't want no -more ructions like last night's. I'll put you in charge of those kids, -and hold you responsible for 'em. I don't care what you do with 'em, so -long's you keep 'em quiet, and don't disturb the company. Kill 'em, if -you want to, but keep 'em quiet. I've got to finish up them pay-rolls -tonight." - -"You bet me and Shorty'll stop these smart Alecks from imposin' on the -poor little greenies," asserted Si. - - - - - -CHAPTER VI. SI KLEGG PUTS HIS AWKWARD SQUAD THROUGH ITS FIRST DRILL - -"I GUESS," thought Si, as he left the Orderly-Sergeant, and walked down -the company street to the left, "that the best way to begin is to get -them little whelps into an awkward squad, and give 'em an hour or two o' -sharp drillin'. That'll introduce 'em to the realities o' soljerin'." - -It was a warm, bright March day, with the North Georgia mountains -rapidly robing themselves in fresh green, to welcome the coming Spring. -The effervescent boys had entirely forgotten the worries of the previous -night, and were frolicking in the bright sunshine as if "out-at-recess" -from school. - -Mackall, Joslyn, Humphreys and Baker had gotten hold of a ball, and were -having a game of "two-cornered cat," with noise enough for a whole -school play-ground. Russell and Scruggs were running a foot-race, for -the entertainment of a squad of cooks and teamsters, and little Pete -Skidmore was giving an exhibition before the same audience of his -ability to stand on his head, and turn somersaults. - -"Little thought they have of the seriousness of war," thought Si, with a -shrug of his shoulders, as he yelled out: - -"Come, boys, fall in here." - -When the boys had first come under Si's command they regarded him as one -of the greatest men in the army. In their shadowy notions of military -matters they rather thought that he stood next to the great Generals -whose names filled all mouths. These ideas had been toppled into dust by -their arrival in camp, and seeing so many different men order him -around. They felt ashamed of themselves that they had ever mistaken him -for a great man, and put him up on a pedestal. That is the way with -boys. They resent nothing more sharply than the thought of their having -been deceived into honoring somebody or something unworthy of honor. -They can stand anything better than a reflection upon their shrewdness -and judgment. - -"Hear Klegg a-calling?" said Joslyn, pausing for an instant, with the -ball in his hand. - -"Let him call," said Mackall, indifferently, finishing his run to base. -"He ain't big boss no more. He's only the lowest Sergeant in the -company. Throw the ball, Harry. You must do better'n you've been doing. -We're getting away with you." - -"Fall in here, boys, I tell you," said Si so sternly that Pete Skidmore -stopped in his handspring, but seeing the bigger boys making no move to -obey, decided that it would be improper for him to show any signs of -weakness, and he executed his flip-flap. - -"Here, you're out, Gid. Gi' me the bat," shouted Harry Joslyn, as he -caught the ball which Mackall had vainly struck at. - -Si strode over to the group, snatched the bat from Harry's hand, spanked -him with it, and started for the others of the group. - -"Say, you musn't hit that boy," exclaimed Gid, jumping on Si's back. Gid -was as ready to fight for Harry as to fight with him. The others rushed -up, school boy like, to defend their companion against "the man," and -little Pete Skidmore picked up a stone and adjusted it for throwing. - -"Why, you little scamps you," gasped Si in amazement. "What'd you mean? -Ain't you goin' to obey my orders?" - -"You haint no right to give us orders no more," asserted Humphreys, -flourishing his bat defiantly. "You're only an enlisted man, same as the -rest o' us. They told us so, last night, and that we mustn't let you -impose on us, as you'd bin doin'. Only the Captain and the Colonel -command us. We've bin posted. And if you dare hit any o' us we'll all -jump on you and maul your head offen you." - -The rest looked approval of Jim's brave words. - -"We're goin' to strike for our altars and our fires. Strike for the -green graves of our sires. God and our native land," declaimed Monty -Scruggs. - -The waspish little mutiny was so amusing that Si had to smile in spite -of himself. With a quick, unexpected movement he snatched the bat from -Jim Humphreys' hand, and said good-humoredly: - -"Now, boys, you mustn't make fools of yourselves agin'. Stop this -nonsense at once, I tell you. I'm just as much your commandin' officer -as I ever was." - -"How can you be a commanding officer, when everybody else bosses you -about?" persisted the argumentative Monty Scruggs. "Everybody that comes -near you orders you around, just the same as you used to us, and you -mind 'em. That ain't no way for a commanding officer. We don't want -anybody bossing us that everybody else bosses." - -"Well, that's the way o' the army," Si explained patiently, "and you've -got to git used to it. 'Most everybody bosses somebody else. The -President tells Gen. Grant what he wants done. Gen. Grant orders Gen, -Thomas to do it. Gen. Thomas orders a Major-General. The Major-General -orders a Brigadier-General. The Brigadier-General orders our Colonel. -Our Colonel orders Cap McGillicuddy. Cap McGillicuddy orders the -Orderly-Sarjint, the Orderly-Sarjint orders me, and I command you." - -"Why, it's worse'n 'The-House-That-Jack-Built,'" said Monty Scruggs. - -"Well, you needn't learn all of it," said Si. "It's enough for you to -know that I command you. That's the A B C of the business, and all you -need know. A man in the army gits into trouble offen by knowin' too -much. You git it well into your craws that I command you, and that -you've got to do just as I say, and I'll do the rest o' the knowin' that -you need.—" - -"But how're we to know that you're right every time," argued Monty -Scruggs. - -"Well," explained the patient Si, "if you've any doubts, go to the -Orderly-Sarjint. If he don't satisfy you, go to the Captain. If you have -doubts about him, carry it to the Colonel. If you're still in doubt, -refer it to the Brigadier-General, then to the Major-General, to Gen. -Thomas, Gen. Grant, and lastly to the President of the United States." - -"Great goodness!" they gasped. - -"But the less you bother your heads with Captains and Curnels and -Generals the better you'll git along. The feller that's right over -you—in arm's length o' you all the time—is the feller that you've got to -look out for sharply. I'm him. Now I want you to form in two ranks -quicker'n scat, and 'tend to business. I'm goin' to drill you. Gid -Mackall, take your place there. Harry Joslyn, stand behind him." - -The old squabbles as to precedence immediately broke out between Gid and -Harry, which Si impatiently ended by snatching Harry by the collar and -yanking him behind Gid, with the wrathful Harry protesting that he -intended carrying the matter up through the whole military hierarchy, -even to the President of the United States, if necessary. He did not -come into the army to be run over. - -"You came into the army to do just as I tell you, and you'll do it. -Silence in the ranks," commanded Si. "Humphreys, stand next to Mackall. -Scruggs, stand behind Humphreys." - -"Why do you put one man behind another?" queried Monty Scruggs. "I don't -think that's right.—Jim's big head'll be forever in my way, so's I can't -see anything. Why don't you put us out in one line, like a class in -school? Then everybody's got the same show." - -"I didn't make the tactics. Git into your places," snapped Si. - -"Well, I don't think much of a teacher that can't explain what he's -teaching," mumbled Monty, as he reluctantly obeyed. - -"Now, Russell, stand next to Humphreys; Baker, stand behind Russell; -Skidmore, stand next to Russell." - -"Goody, I'm in the front rank," giggled little Pete, and Harry Joslyn -looked as if here was another case of favoritism that he would have to -call the President's attention to. - -"Now," commanded Si, "put your heels together, turn your toes out, stand -erect, draw your stomachs in—" - -'draw Your Stomachs In. 73 - -"Look here, Jim Humphreys," grumbled Monty Scruggs, "when he told you to -draw your stomach in he didn't mean for you to stick your hips out till -you bumped me over into the next Township. I've got to have room to -stand here, as well as you." - -"Silence in the ranks," commanded Si. "Draw your stomachs in, put your -little fingers down to the seams of your pantaloons—" - -"You mean the middle finger, don't you?" queried Monty Scruggs. "That's -more natural way of standing." - -"No, I mean the little finger," asserted Si. - -"But the middle finger is more natural," persisted Monty. "You can't -stand straight with your little finger at the seam. See here." - -"Scruggs, do as I say, without no words," said Si, and then Monty's face -took on an expression of determination to carry the matter to a higher -court. - -"Now, keep your faces straight to the front, and at the command 'Right -dress!' turn your eyes, without moving your heads, until you kin see the -buttons on the breast of the second man to the right. 'Right dress!'" - -"There's no man on my right for me to look toward. What 'm I to do?" -complained Gid Mackall. - -"There, you see what come o' putting him in front," exulted Harry -Joslyn. "Now, if I'd bin—" - -"Say, I can't see up to Jim Humphreys' big breast without twistin' my -neck nearly off," murmured little Pete Skidmore. "Can't you make him -scrooch a little? Jest see him swell up." - -"What's the use o' linin' on a feller that can't stand still a second?" -complained the others. - -"Great Scott, what a line," groaned Si, walking along, shoving the boys -back, and twisting them around, to get them straight. "Crooked as a -pumpkin vine in a cornfield. Here, I told you not to turn your heads, -but only your eyes. If you snipes wouldn't gab so much, but listen to -what I say, you'd git along better. Silence in ranks. Now, try it over -again. Faces straight to the front. Eyes cast to the right, until they -catch the buttons on the breast of the second man. Right dress!" - -"Great grief," sighed he, looking at the result. "You wriggle about like -so many eels. Might as well try to line up so many kittens. Won't you -straighten Up and keep straight?" Then came a renewal of the noisy -discussion, with mutual blaming of one another. - -Si picked up a stick and drew a line in the ground. "Now bring your toes -to that line, and keep 'em there." - -"Shall we take that scratch along with us as we march, or will you draw -another one for us as we need it?" Monty Scruggs asked, at which the -other boys laughed, which did not improve Si's temper. It was long, hard -work before he got the restless, talkative young fellows so that they -would form a fairly straight line, and maintain it for a minute or two. - -He looked at them, wiped his perspiring brow, and remarked internally: - -"Well, I thought them was bright boys, that it'd be no trouble to drill. -I'd ruther break in the stoonidest lot o' hayseeds that ever breathed, -rather than boys that think they know more'n I do. Now I'm goin' to have -the time o' my life learnin' 'em the right face." - -He began the explanation of that complicated manuver: - -"Now, I want every one o' you to stop talkin', gether up them scatter- -fire brains o' your'n, and pay strict 'tention to every word I say—" - -"Harry Joslyn," broke in Gid, "if you tramp on my heels just one more -time, I'll knock your head off. I've told you often enough." - -"Well, you just keep off en my toes with them rockgrinders o' your'n," -Harry retorted. - -"Silence in ranks," commanded Si. "Each rank will count twos." - -"What are twos? Where are they, and how many of 'em do you want us to -count?" asked Monty Scruggs, at which the other boys snickered. They -were getting very tired of the drill, and in the humor to nag and balk -the drillmaster. Si lost a trifle of his temper, and said: - -"You're too all-fired smart with your tongue, Scruggs. If you were only -half as smart learnin' your business—" - -"Sergeant," said one of the Lieutenants who happened to be passing, -"keep your temper. You'll get along better. Don't squabble with your -men." - -This made the boys much worse. - -"What I mean by countin' twos," explained Si, "is that the man on the -right in each rank shall count one, the next one, two; the next one, one -and so on. Count twos!" - -They made such an exasperating muddle of it, that Si almost had a fit. -The cooks, teamsters and other hangers-on saw the trouble and came -flocking around with all manner of jesting remarks and laughter, which -strained Si's temper to the utmost, and encouraged the boys in their -perversity. Si curbed himself down, and laboriously exemplified the -manner of counting until the boys had no excuse for not understanding -it. - -"Now, said he, at the command 'Right face,' the No. 1 man in the front -rank faces to the right and stand fast—" - -"What do the rest of us do?" they chorused. - -"The rest o' you chase yourselves around him," said a humorist among the -cooks, while the others laughed uproariously. - -"Shut up, you pot-wrastlers," said Si wrathfully. "If I hear another -word from you, I'll light into you with a club. Now you brats—" - -"Sergeant," admonished the Lieutenant, "you mustn't use such language to -your men." - -This made Si angrier, and the boys more cantankerous. Si controlled -himself to go on with his explanations in a calm tone: - -"No 1 in the front rank will face to the right, and stand fast, and take -a side step to the right. Each No. 2 will face to the right, and take on -oblique side step to the right to place himself on the right hand of his -No. 1 man." - -"Say that all again, Sergeant," asked Monty Scruggs. - -Si patiently repeated the explanation. - -"Now sing it to the tune of 'When this Cruel War is Over,' called out -the cook-humorist. - -"Right face," commanded Si. - -A roar went up from the camp-follower audience at the hopeless tangle -which ensued. No two of the boys seemed to have done the same thing. -Several had turned to the left, and all were sprinting around in various -ways in a more or less genuine pretense of executing the order. -Meanwhile the news that Si's squad of recruits were having fun with him -spread through the camp, and a crowd gathered to watch the performance -and give their jeering advice in that characteristic soldierly way when -they see a comrade wrestling with a perplexing job. - -"Git a bushel basket, and gather 'em up in it." - -"Tie straw around their left feet, and hay around their right ones, so's -they'll know 'em." - -"Back 'em up agin' a rail fence and git 'em into line;" were among the -freely offered suggestions. Si was sweating all over, and so angry that -he had to stolidly bite his words off, one at a time, to keep from -showing his temper. To add to his troubles, he saw the Colonel, of whom -he stood in proper awe, become interested in the crowd and the shouting, -and stroll down from his tent to see what the excitement was. - -"As you were," Si commanded, steadying his voice with a great effort. -"Every one of you git back as I placed you. Right dress!" - -To his wonderment they formed as good a line as veterans could have -done. They heard a whisper that the Colonel was coming, and it sobered -them. - -"Right face!" commanded Si. - -They all faced to the right and stepped into their places without an -error. - -"Front!" commanded Si, and they returned to two ranks. - -"Ah, Sergeant," said the Colonel, kindly, as he made his way through the -respectfully opened, saluting crowd. "Giving your men their first drill, -are you? Well, you are getting along remarkably well for recruits. I saw -that last movement, and it was very well done, indeed. You've got some -very nice-looking boys there, and I think they'll be a credit to the -regiment." - -"Saved by the skin o' my teeth," gasped Si to himself, as the Colonel -strolled on. "Now, you young roosters, I see that you kin do it whenever -you want to, and you've got to want to after this. A boy that don't want -to I'll take down to the branch there, and hold his head under water -till he does want to. I'm goin' to stay with you until you learn the -drill dead letter perfect. You can't git rid of me. You'll save trouble -by rememberin' that. Now we'll go back for supper. Right -face—forward—file left—March!" - - - - - -CHAPTER VII. SHORTY'S HEART TURNS TOWARD MARIA AND HE FINALLY GETS A -LETTER FROM HER. - -AFTER the flush of excitement of returning to his old regiment and -meeting his comrades—after the process of readjusting himself to the -changed relations made by death, wounds, discharges, resignations and -promotions—after the days had brought a settling back into the old -routine of camp-life, there developed in Shorty's heart growing -homesickness for Maria Klegg. - -At least that was what it seemed to him. He did not exactly know what -homesickness was from personal experience, as he had never really had a -home. But he had seen thousands of boys more or less affected by that -obscure but stubborn and dangerous malady, and had noted their symptoms, -which strongly resembled his own. - -Somehow, the sun only shone with real brightness and warmth over the -pleasant homes and fertile fields of Posey County, Ind. Somehow, women -had a fairness and sweetness there denied to their sex elsewhere, and -somehow the flower of them all was a buxom maiden of 20 dwelling under -the roof of Deacon Klegg. - -Shorty appreciated very properly the dignity and responsibilities of his -two stripes. He was going to be the model Corporal of the regiment, and -give all the rest a copy which they could follow to advantage. Of all -the Corporals he had ever known, Si Klegg had come nearest his ideas as -to what a Corporal should be, but even Si had his limitations. He would -show him some improvements. So shorty bent his mind upon the performance -of everything pertaining to the Corporalcy with promptness and zeal. He -even set to studying the Regulations and Tactics—at least those -paragraphs relating to Corporals and their duties—where heretofore he -had despised "book-soldiering," and relied on quick observation and -"horse sense" to teach him all that was worth knowing. But his stay in -the Deacon's home showed him that they esteemed "book-knowledge" even in -common things as of much value, and he began to have a new respect for -that source of instruction. - -Even through the pressure of official duties and responsibilities there -would steal, like the wafting of a sweet song to the ears of the reapers -in a hot field, thoughts of the coolness, the beauty and the peace of -that quiet home on the Wabash, with one flower-faced girl, with white, -soft arms, going about her daily tasks, singing with such blithe -cheeriness that even the birds stopped to listen to a sweeter note than -theirs. Some subtle fragrance from her seemed to be with him wherever he -was, and whatever he might be doing. When, as the tallest Corporal in -Co. Q, he stood on the right of the company, on drill and dress parade, -and made the others "dress" on him, he wished that Maria Klegg could -only see how straight the line was, and how soldierly the boys looked. -When the Colonel personally selected him to command the squad which was -to escort the Paymaster through a dangerous part of the country, he -would have given much had Maria known of the trust reposed in him. And -when, as Corporal of the Guard, he suppressed in his usual summary way a -noisy row among the teamsters and cooks, he was very glad that Maria did -not hear the remarks that a Corporal always thinks necessary to make on -such occasions. Shorty did not swear with the fluent ease of before his -visit to the Klegg homestead, but a little excitement gave the old -looseness to his tongue. And when he sat around the guard-fire, he would -refuse to be drawn into any "little games," but turn his back upon the -chattering crowd, and furtively draw from his breast-pocket the remnant -of Maria's dress, and feel it, and muse over it, until aroused by the -call: - -"Corporal of the Guard, Post No. 14. I want a drink o' water." - -Shorty began to watch for Si's mail a good deal more anxiously than that -worthy did. He managed to go by the Chaplain's tent whenever duty took -him in that part of the camp, and sometimes when it did not, and inquire -if there was any mail there for Si. One day he was rewarded by the -Chaplain handing him two letters. His heart beat a little quicker by -seeing that they were both postmarked Bean Blossom Creek. The smaller—a -white envelope, superscribed in Annabel's cramped little hand—he thrust -indifferently into his pocket, and the larger—a fat, yellow envelope, -covered with the good Deacon's massive crow-tracks, and securely -fastened by a dab of sealing wax, pressed down with a cent—he studied -with tender interest. It had come directly from her home—from her -father. It probably told something about her. - -It seemed as if there was something of the perfume of her presence about -it. Possibly she had carried it to the station and mailed it. He turned -it over gently, studied every detail, and fixed his eyes upon it, as if -he would make them pierce the thick, strong paper and devour the -contents. Then it occurred to him that the better and quicker way to get -at the inside would be to deliver the letters to Si. So he hunted up his -partner, whom he found about to take his squad out for a turn at wagon -guarding. - -Si looked pleased as he recognized his father's letter, but his face -flushed to the roots of his sandy hair at the sight of Annabel's. He put -the latter carefully in his pocket. It was too sweet and sacred a thing -to be opened and read under the gaze of any one else's eyes. He broke -open his father's and as his eyes traveled slowly down the large -foolscap pages, covered with the Deacon's full-grown characters, for the -Deacon made his letters as he liked his stock—big and full—he said: - -"They're all well at home, but mother's had a tech of her old rheumatiz. -Pap's sold his wheat at a dollar and four bits. Peaches about half -killed. Had good luck with his lambs. Wheat's lookin' unusually well. -Beck Spangler's married Josh Wilson, whose wife died last Fall, leavin' -him two little children. Brindle cow's come in fresh, with a nice calf, -quarter Jersey. Copperhead's gittin' sassy agin. Holdin' night meetin's -and wearin' butternut badges, and talkin' about resistin' draft. Hogs -wintered well, and looks as if Pap'd have a nice drove to sell in the -Fall. Pap'll put in 'bout 90 acres o' corn, and'll have to hustle his -plowin' ez soon's the ground's fit. Little Sammy Woggles had a fight -with Beecham's boy, who's six months older, and licked him. Sammy likes -school better now than he did. Pap's bought Abraham Lincoln a new suit -o' store clothes and the girls have made him some white shirts. He goes -to church every Sunday now, and carries a cane. Pap sends his regards to -you, Shorty, and mother and the girls want to be kindly remembered. -There, take the letter, Shorty, and read it for yourself. I've got to -skip out with my squad." - -Shorty took the letter with eagerness, and retired to a nook to read it -all over carefully, and see if he could not mayhap glean out of it -something more relating to Her. But the main satisfaction was in reading -again and again "Mother and the girls want to be kindly remembered to -Shorty." - -"Not uncomfortably warm, and purty general, like the gal who promised to -be a sister to the hull rijimint," mused Shorty, as he refolded the -letter and replaced it in the envelope. "But, then, it is better to be -kindly remembered by sich people as them than to be slobbered over by -anybody else in the world. Wisht I knowed jest how much o' the kind -remembrance was Maria's, and if it differed in any way from her mother's -and sister's?" - -The next evening the Orderly-Sergeant handed Shorty a badly-thumb-marked -and blotted yellow envelope, on which was scrawled in a very schoolish -hand: - -"To Mister Corpril Elliott, "Co. Q, Two Hundred Injianny Volintears, - -"Chattynoogy, 10-S-E." - -Opening it he read: - -Mister Shortee - -U ar a Frawd!!! That's what U ar!!! - -Whairz mi Gunn?????? - -U ar a long-shanked, brick-topt Frawd & a promisbraker!!! - -Whairz mi Gunn??? - -U hav now bin away a hole month, & I haint seen no Gunn! - -Awl the boiz is makin fun ov Me, bekaws I blowed around bout the Gunn I -waz going 2 git, & I didn't git none. - -Whairz mi Gunn??? - -I likked Ans. Beechum till he hollered nuff, for teezin Me bout mi Gunn. -That's quiled the other boiz. - -But I want mi Gunn! - -I have just lots & Gobs 2 tell U, bout what Maria's bin sayin bout yore -saffron head, but I shant write a word till I git mi Gunn! - -I wont tell U how the girls is pleggin her bout her Big Sunflower till I -git mi Gunn! - -If U doant send mi Gunn rite off He tel Maria everything I no. - -I tel U now. He spile yore fun - -Onless at once U send mi Gunn. - -Yores til deth, - -SAMUEL WOGGLES. - -The reception of this perturbed Shorty to his depths. He had not -forgotten his promise to Sammy—merely postponed its execution under the -pressure of other engrossments. He reproached himself for not -remembering how eagerly the boy had been looking forward to a possession -which would make him the envy of the other boys—really hated by them for -his towering and undeserved fortune. - -"And Maria and the girls is talkin' about me," he communed with himself. -"I knowed that my left ear hadn't bin burnin' ever since we crossed the -Ohio River for nothin'. I thought it was because it'd got so tender -layin' on pillers that the blankets chafed it. Now I understand it. And -I can't hear nothin' of what they've bin sayin' till I git that gun to -Sammy. I'll start it to him this day, if it takes a leg. I'd intended to -go over to the camp o' the Maumee Muskrats today, on a missionary, tower -with them new tricks I brung back with me, but I'll put in the time -gittin' Sammy's gun and shippin' it to him. Wonder where I kin pick up a -rebel musket and trimmins'?" Shorty did not find this so easy as he had -anticipated. Generally, rebel guns had been a drug in the market. They -could be found lying around camp almost anywhere, and were used for any -purpose to which they could be applied—poles to hang kettles on over the -fire, tent-sticks, revetments to hold the dirt back, or any other use. -But under the rigid system now prevailing in Sherman's camps everything -had to be accounted for, and every gun sufficiently serviceable to be -worth sending to Sammy had been gathered up and stored away in a large -shed. Shorty went down there and scrutinized the armory. There were -plenty of guns in there, any one of which would make Sammy's heart leap -for joy, and render him the object of the burning envy of all the boys -for miles around. But there were guards pacing around, and they looked -watchful. Still, if the night were dark he might slip in and steal one. -But somehow since he had known Maria there had risen in his mind a -repugnance to that way of procuring things. It was not in accordance -with Klegg ideas. He sat down and pondered on other methods. He went -over and talked to the Sergeant in charge, an old acquaintance, but the -Sergeant was obdurate. - -"No, sir. Can't let one of 'em go on no account," said the Sergeant -firmly. "My Captain's in charge of 'em, and he's put me in charge. He -knows he can trust me, and I know that he can. He don't know how many -guns and bayonets and cartridge-boxes there are, but I do, for I counted -them first thing when I come on. I don't propose that he shall have to -have any shortage charged against him when he comes to settle his -accounts. I don't know whether they've got an account of the things at -Headquarters, but they're likely to have, and I'm not taking any risks. -I'm looking out for my Captain." - -"But suppose I pay you the value of the blamed old blunderbuss," said -Shorty, as a desperate resort, for it was the first time that he had -ever thought of a rebel gun having a money value. - -"I wouldn't take it," replied the Sergeant. "First place, I haint no -idea what they're worth. Next place, if I had, I wouldn't take it, for I -don't want any shortage in Cap's accounts. Thirdly, if I took the money -I'd like as not set into a game o' poker tonight and lose it, and then -where'd I be, and where'd Cap be? I've been having monstrous hard luck -at poker lately." - -"That's because you ain't up to the latest kinks," said Shorty, -hopefully. "I've been back to the rear—just come from Jeffersonville—and -I've got on to a lot of new dodges. I'll show 'em all to you for one o' -them guns." - -The waver in the Sergeant's face showed the temptation was a trying one, -but he answered firmly: - -"No; I won't do it." - -"I'll put up a $10 bill agin one o' the guns, play you two out o' three -for it, learn you the tricks, and give you back the money if I win," -said Shorty desperately. - -Again the Sergeant's face showed great irresolution, but again his -fidelity triumphed, and he answered firmly, "No I won't." Then he -softened his refusal by saying: - -"Come, Shorty, walk over a little way with me. I know where we can get -something good." - -After they had shared a tincupful of applejack that a teamster supplied -them the Sergeant's heart thawed out a little. - -"I tell you. Shorty, there's a gun in there that'd just tickle your boy -to death. It's an Enfield, new one, and has a Yankee bullet sticking in -the butt. Must've knocked the Johnny a double somersault when it struck. -I've been thinkin' sending it home myself. But I'll let you have it, and -I'll tell you how you can get it. See that camp over there? Well, that's -a regiment being organized out o' Tennessee refugees. They and their -officers are the carelessest lot of galoots that ever lived. Their -Quartermaster stores and their Commissary stores, and everything they -have is allowed to lie around loose, just wherever they get the notion -to drop them. I've had my eye on 'em for several days, and've helped -several of my friends to straighten up their company accounts, and -replace things that they'd lost. You just waltz over there, careless -like, as if you belonged to the regiment, pick up a gun and traps, put -'em on, and sail back here, and I'll turn your things in, and give you -that gun with the bullet in the stock in exchange." - -Shorty lost no time in acting on the advice. That afternoon the express -from Chattanooga carried a gun to Sammy Woggles, the contemplation of -which deprived that youth of sleep the night after he received it, and -won him the cordial hatred of every boy in his neighborhood for his -overweening pride. - -But after the gun was gone, and after Shorty had written a laborious -letter, informing Sammy of the shipment of the gun and its history, -which letter inclosed a crisp greenback, and was almost as urgent in -injunctions to Sammy to write as Sammy had been about his piece of -ordnance, Shorty sat down in sadness of heart. He was famishing for -information from Maria, and at the lowest calculation he could not hope -for a letter from Sammy for two weeks. - -"It'll take at least a week for that little rat to git over his fever -about that gun," he mused, "until he'll be able to set up and think -about anything else. Then it'll take him at least another week to build -a letter. Great Jehosephat, how'm I goin' to stand it till then? -Where'll I be two weeks from now? What kin I do? I a'most wish that -something'd happen to Si that'd give me an excuse for writin'." - -He racked his fertile brain with expedients and devices for getting up -communication, but for once he had to reject them all. There was a halo -of unapproachableness about Maria Klegg that paralyzed him. - -He awoke the next morning with the same anxiety gnawing at his heart, -and it haunted him so that he went through the morning's routine -mechanically. When he came back from taking a squad up to Headquarters -to report for fatigue duty, the Orderly-Sergeant called out: - -"Here's a letter for you, Corporal Elliott." Shorty took the small white -envelope from the Orderly's hand, and looked at it curiously. Who could -it be from? It resembled somewhat the letters that once came from Bad -Ax, Wis., but then again it was very different. He studied the -handwriting, which was entirely strange to him. Then he was electrified -by seeing that the postmark seemed to be something the same as on Si's -letters, but was blurred. He gave a little gasp, and said: - -"Orderly, I'd like to git off a little while today." "Why, Shorty," -remonstrated the busy Sergeant, "you were off yesterday. But go. I'll -try to get along without you. Don't stay long." - -A Letter from Maria. 81 - -Shorty would not trust himself to more than look at the outside, until -he had gained a safe screen behind a clump of bushes. Then he took out -his knife, carefully slit the envelope, and read: - -Dear Mr. Elliot— - -I take my pen in hand to inform you that we are all in good health and -hope you are enjoyin' the same blessing fur which we should all be -thankful to God. I am over on a visit to Prairie Hen and Mrs. Skidmore a -widow woman called to see me today In the course of conversation she -said her little boy Peter had run off and shed hurd hed joined the 200th -Indiana Volunteer Infantry. She heard that we had folks in that regiment -and so had come over to see me to see if I knowed anybody that would -give her any news about her boy so as she could ask them to look out for -him. I told her I knowed a gentleman in the 200th Indiana who would look -out for Peter and be a second father to him and as soon as she had went -I started this epistle. I thot id answer my letters because its all he -can do to write answer my letter because its all he can do to write to -mother and Annabel and dont write to mother haf often enuf besides id -like to hear from you myself. Sincerely Yore Friend - -Maria Klegg. - -"M-a-r-i-a-r K-l-e-g-g," gasped Shorty, spelling over the letters, one -at a time, to make sure that his eyes were not making a fool of him. -"And she'd like to hear from me." - -And he took off his hat, and fanned his burning face. - - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. SHORTY WRITES A LETTER TO MARIA KLEGG AND ENTERS UPON HIS -PARENTAL RELATIONS TO LITTLE PETE SKIDMORE. - -THE self-sufficient, self-reliant Shorty had never before had anything -to so completely daze him. "Ackchelly a letter from Maria Klegg. Writ of -her own free will and accord. And she wants to hear from me," he -murmured, reading the letter over and over again, and scanning the -envelope as if by intensity of gaze he would wring more from the mute -white paper. The thought was overpowering that it had come directly from -her soft hand; that she had written his name upon it; that her lips had -touched the stamp upon it. He tenderly folded up the letter and replaced -it in the envelope. His thoughts were too tumultuous for him to sit -still. He would walk and calm himself. He wrapped the piece of Maria's -dress around the letter, rose and started off. He had gone but a few -steps when it seemed to him that he had not caught the full meaning of -some of the words in the letter. He sought a secluded place where he -could sit down, unseen by any eyes, and read the letter all over again -several times. Then came the disturbing thought of how he was to care -for and protect the precious missive? He could not bear to part with it -for a single minute, and yet he did not want to carry the sacred thing -around exposed to the dirt and moil of daily camp-life and the danger of -loss. He thought long and earnestly, and at last went down to a large -sutler's store, and purchased the finest morocco wallet from his stock. -Even this did not seem a sufficiently rich casket for such a gem, and he -bought a large red silk bandana, in which he carefully wrapped letter, -dress fragment and wallet, and put them in the pocket of his flannel -shirt, next his breast. Next came the momentous duty of writing an -answer to the letter. Yesterday he was burning with a desire to make an -opportunity to write. Now the opportunity was at hand, the object of his -desires had actually asked him to write her, and the completeness of the -opportunity unnerved him. - -"The first thing I have got to do," said he, "is to git some paper and -envelopes and ink. I don't s'pose they've got anything here fit for a -gentleman to write to a lady with." He turned over the sutler's stock of -stationery disdainfully, and finally secured a full quire of heavy, -gilt-edged paper, and a package of envelopes, on which was depicted a -red-and-blue soldier, with a flag in one hand and a gun in the other, -charging bayonets through a storm of bursting shells. - -"It's true I ain't one o' the color-guard yit," mused Shorty, studying -the picture, "but the Colonel sorter hinted that I might be, if Cap -McGillicuddy could spare me from Co. Q, which ain't at all likely. Now, -Mister, le'me see some pens." - -"Here's some—Gillott's—best quality," said the sutler's clerk. - -"Naw," said Shorty contemptuously. "Don't want no common steel pens. -Goin' to write to a lady. Git me your best gold ones." - -Shorty made quite a pretense of trying, as he had seen penmen do, the -temper of the pens upon his thumb-nail, but chose the largest and -highest priced one, in an elaborate silver holder. - -"I'm very partickler 'bout my pens," said he to the clerk. "I must have -'em to just suit my hand. Some folks's very keerless about what they -write with, but I wasn't brung up that way." - -"If you'd ask my advice," said the clerk, "I'd recommend this thing as -the best for you to use. It'd suit fine Italian hand better'n any pen -ever made." - -And he held up a marking-pot and brush. - -"Young man," said Shorty, solemnly, as he paid for his purchases, "the -condition o' your health requires you not to try to be funny. It's one -o' the dangerousest things in the army. You're exposed to a great many -complaints down here, but nothin' 'll send you to the hospital as -suddenly as bein' funny." - -The next thing was a studio where he could conduct his literary task -without interruption, and Shorty finally found a rock surrounded by -bushes, where he could sit and commune with his thoughts. He got the -cover of a cracker-box, to place on his knees and serve for a desk, laid -his stationery down beside him, re-read Maria's letter several times, -spoiled several sheets of paper in trying to get his fingers limber -enough for chirography, and then, begun the hardest, most anxious -afternoon's work he had ever done, in writing the following letter: - -"Camp ov the 2 Hunderdth Injianny - -"Voluntear Infantry, - -"Mishun Rij, nere Chattynoogy, April the 10, 1864. - -"Miss Maria Klegg, - -"Respected Frend. - -(This part of the letter had cost Shorty nearly an hour of anxious -thought. He had at first written "Dere Miss Maria," and then recoiled, -shuddered and blushed at the thought of the affectionate familiarity -implied. Then he had scrawled, one after another, the whole gamut of -beginnings, before he decided upon addressing her, as was her right, as -formally as he would the wife of the President.) - -"Yore letter was welcomer to me than the visit ov the Pamaster, after -six months exclipse ov hiz cheerful mug." - -("I think 'mug' is the word they use for face in good society," mused -Shorty, with the end of the penholder in his mouth. "At least I heard -the Kurnel use it one day. She can't expect no man to be much gladder of -anything than the comin' o' the Paymaster, and that orter please her.") - -"Thankee for yore kind inkwiries az to mi helth? Ime glad to say that -Ime all rite, and sound in lung, body and runnin' gear, and—" - -(Shorty was on the point of adding "Hope that you are enjoying the same -blessing," when a shiver passed through him that it might be improper to -allude to a young lady's locomotory apparatus. After deep meditation, he -took safety's side and added): - -"So's Si. I sinserely hoap that you are injoyin' the blessin's ov helth, -and the konsolashuns ov religion." - -("I'm not certain about that last," thought Shorty, "but I heard a -preacher say it once, and it ought to be all right to write to a young -lady.") - -"We are still layin' in camp, but expectin' every day orders to move out -for a little soshable with Mister Joe Johnston, whose roostin over on -Pigeon Mountain. When we git at him, there won't be no pigeon about it, -but a game ov fox-and-geese with us for the foxes. - -("There," mused Shorty, complacently; "that'll amuse her. Girls like a -little fun throwed into letters, when it's entirely respectful.) - -"Little Pete Skidmore is in the company, all rite. He is wun ov the -nicest boys that ever lived, but he needs half-killin' nerely every day. -All real nice boys do. Woodent give much for them if they diddent. Tel -his mother He look out for him, and fetch him up in the way he shood go, -if I haf to break every bone in his body. She needent worry. I no awl -about boys. Thair like colts—need to be well-broke before thair enny -akount." - -("Now," commented Shorty, as he read what he had written, "that'll make -Maria and his mother feel easy in their minds. They'll think they're in -great luck to git a man who'll be a second father to Pete, and not risk -spilin the child by sparin the rod.") - -("Great Jehosephat, what work writing to a young lady is. I'd much -ruther build breastworks or make roads. Now, if it was some ordinary -woman, I wouldn't have to be careful about my spelin' and gramer, but -with sich a lady as Maria Klegg—great Cesar's ghost! a man must do the -very best that's in him, and then that ain't half enough. But I must -hurry and finish this letter this afternoon. I can't git another day off -to work at it.") - -"Respected Miss Maria, what a fine writer you are. Yore handwritin' is -the most beautiful I ever seen. Jeb Smith, our company clerk, thinks -that he can sFlink ink to beat old Spencerian System hisself, but he -ain't once with you. Ide ruther see one line ov your beautiful ritin' -than all that he ever writ." - -("That's so," said Shorty, after judicially scanning the sentence. "Jeb -kin do some awful fancy kurlys, and draw a bird without takin' his pen -from the paper, but he never writ my name a thousandth part as purty as -Maria kin.") - -"And how purty you spel. Ime something ov a speler myself, and can nock -out most ov the boys in the company on Webster's Primary, but I aint to -be menshuned in the saim day with you. - -"With best respecks to your family, and hoapin soon to here from you, I -am very respeckfully, your friend, - -W. L. Elliot. - -Corpril, Company Q, 2 Hundsrdth Injiamiy Volintear Infantry." - -By the time he had his letter finished, and was wiping the sweat of -intense labor from his brow, he heard the bugle sounding the first call -for dress parade. "I must go and begin my fatherly dooties to little -Pete Skidmore," he said, carefully sealing his letter and sticking a -stamp on it, to mail at the Chaplain's tent as he went by. "It's goin' -to be extry fatigue to be daddy to a little cuss as lively as a -schoolhouse flea, and Corpril of Co. Q, at the same time, but I'm going -to do it, if it breaks a leg." - -He was passing a clump of barberry bushes when he overheard Pete -Skidmore's voice inside: - -"I'll bet $10 I kin pick it out every time. I'll bet $25 I kin pick it -out this time. Don't tech the cards." - -"I don't want to lose no more money on baby bets," replied a tantalizing -voice. "I'll make it $40 or nothin'. Now, youngster, if y're a man—" - -Shorty softly parted the bushes and looked in. Two of the well-known -sharpers who hung around the camps had enticed little Pete in there, and -to a game of three-card monte. They had inflamed his boyish conceit by -allowing him to pick out two cards in succession, and with small bets. - -"I hain't got but $40 left o' my bounty and first month's pay," said -little Pete irresolutely, "and I wanted to send $35 of it home to -mother, but I'll—" - -"You'll do nothin' o' the kind," shouted Shorty, bursting through the -bushes. "You measly whelps, hain't you a grain o' manhood left? Ain't -you ashamed to swindle a green little kid out o' the money that he wants -to send to his widowed mother?" - -"Go off and 'tend to your own business, if you know what's good for -you," said the larger of the men threateningly. "Keep your spoon out o' -other folks' soup. This young man knows what he's about. He kin take -care o' himself. He ain't no chicken. You ain't his guardeen." - -"No he ain't," said Pete Skidmore, whose vanity was touched as well as -his cupidity aroused. "Mind your own business, Mister Elliott. You're -only a Corpril anyway. You hain't nothin' to do with me outside the -company. I kin take care o' myself. I've beat these men twice, and kin -do it again." - -"Clear out, now, if you don't want to git hurt," said the larger man,' -moving his hand toward his hip. - -Shorty's response was to kick over the board on which the cards were -lying, and knock the man sprawling with a back-handed blow. He made a -long pass at the other man, who avoided it, and ran away. Shorty took -Pete by the collar and drew him out of the bushes, in spite of that -youngster's kicks and protestations. - -He halted there, pulled out his pocket-knife, and judicially selected a -hickory limb, which he cut and carefully pruned. - -"What're you goin' to do?" asked Pete apprehensively. - -"I'm goin' to give you a lesson on the evils of gamblin', Pete, -especially when you don't know how." - -"But I did know how," persisted Pete. "I beat them fellers twice, and -could beat them every time. I could see quicker'n they could move their -hands." - -"You little fool, you knowed about as much about them cards as they know -of ice-water in the place where Jeff Davis is goin'. Pete, I'm goin' to -be a second father to you." - -"Dod dum you, who asked you to be a daddy to me? I've had one already. -When I want another, I'll pick one out to suit myself," and Pete looked -around for a stone or a club with which to defend himself. - -"Pete," said Shorty solemnly as he finished trimming the switch, and -replaced the knife in his pocket, "nobody's allowed to pick out his own -daddy in this world. He just gits him. It's one o' the mysterious ways -o' Providence. You've got me through one o' them mysterious ways o' -Providence, and you can't git shet o' me. I'm goin' to lick you still -harder for swearin' before your father, and sayin' disrespeckful words -to him. And I'm goin' to lick you till you promise never to tech another -card until I learn you you how to play, which'll be never. Come here, my -son." - -The yells that soon rose from that thicket would have indicated that -either a boy was being skinned alive or was having his face washed by -his mother. - - - - - -CHAPTER IX. SI TAKES HIS BOYS FOR A LITTLE MARCH INTO THE COUNTRY. - -"SI," said the Orderly-Sergeant, "here's a chance to give them pin- -feather roosters o' yours a little taste of active service, that'll be -good seasoning for 'em, and help develop their hackles and spurs." - -"Good idee. What is it?" responded Si with alacrity. - -"An order's come down from Headquarters to detail a Sergeant and eight -men from the company to go out about eight or 10 miles in the country, -and take a turn guarding a little mill they're running out there, -grinding meal. There's a gang of bushwhackers around there, that -occasionally pester the men at work and they've tried once to burn the -mill. I don't think you'll have much trouble, but you've got to keep -your eye peeled, and not let any of your boys go to sleep on post." - -"I'll look out for that." - -"I know you will. You'll take Shorty along, and your seven kids, -which'll make up the number. You'll draw three days' rations, at the end -of which time you'll be relieved." - -"Now, boys," said Si, returning to his squad, "we won't drill today, but -are going out on some real soldierin'. The Kurnel has given us a very -important detail." - -The boys swelled up visibly at the news. - -"I want you to all act like soldiers, now," continued Si, "and be a -credit to the company and the rijiment. We're goin' to be all by -ourselves, and everybody's eyes 'll be on us." - -"Yes," echoed Shorty, "we'll be the only part o' the rijiment at the -front, and we want to git a good stiff brace on ourselves, because if we -don't some o' these other rijiments may git the grand laugh on us." - -Shorty's tone was that this was a calamity to which death was -preferable, and the boys were correspondingly impressed. They were -rapidly learning the lesson that the regiment and its reputation were -the most important things in the whole world. - -"Come along, and le's draw our rations," said Si. "And you boys want to -keep in mind that this's all you'll git for three days, and govern -yourselves accordingly. The 'Leventh Commandment is to take all that you -kin git, and take mighty good care of it after you git it—" - -"For sich is the Kingdom of Heaven," interjected Shorty, imitating the -Chaplain's tone. - -"No," said Si, who was irritated by his partner's irreverence: "but it's -the way a good soldier does. His first dooty's to take care o' his grub, -because that's takin' care o' himself, and keepin' himself in good shape -to do the dooty the Government expects o' him. 'Tain't servin' the -Government right for him to be careless about himself. Now here's 27 -rations o' bread, meat, coffee, sugar, salt and beans—three apiece for -each of us. Harry Joslyn, you and Gid Mack divide them up into nine -equal piles." - -Si and Shorty turned to give directions about packing up the shelter- -tents and blankets for carrying. - -"Now, Gid Mackall," said Harry, "play fair, if you ever did in your -life. I won't have none o' your shenanniging." - -"Don't talk to me about shenanniging, you little imp," responded Gid -cordially. "You can't do a straight thing if you try, and you never try. -You never fisted-up with me on a ball-bat that you didn't slip your hand -so's to come out ahead." - -"Now, there's three loaves o' bread for the Sargint," said Harry, laying -them down on a newspaper. "There's three for the Corpril; there's three -for me; there's three for you." - -"Here, what're you givin' me that broken loaf for?" demanded Gid, -stopping in his distribution of meat. "Give that to Pete Skidmore. He's -the littlest." - -"Ain't goin' to do nothin' o' the kind," responded Harry. "You've got to -take things as they come. That loaf fell to you, and you've got to keep -it." - -"If you don't take that nubbin loaf away and put a full one in its -place, not a speck o' lean meat 'll you get—nothin' but fat six inches -thick." - -"You'll cut that meat straight across, and give me my right share o' -lean, you puddin'-headed, sandhill crane," shouted Harry. - -"Who're you a-calling names, you bow-legged little shrimp?" shouted Gid, -slapping Harry across the face with a piece of fat pork. - -An angry mix-up, school boy rules, followed, to the great detriment of -the rations. Si and Shorty rushed up, separated the combatants, and -administered shakes, cuffs, and sharp reprimands. - -"Now, you quarrelsome little whelps," said Si, after quiet had been -restored, "you've got to take them rations that you've spiled for -yourselves. You shan't have no other. Put that bread and that meat -you've kicked around into your own haversacks. Then go back there and -roll up your blankets—same as the other boys. Alf Russell, you and Jim -Humphreys come here and divide the rest o' these rations into seven -parts, if you kin do it without fightin'." - -The division of the rations proceeded, with some jars between Russell -and Humphreys over the apportionment of fat and lean meat, and angry -protests from little Pete Skidmore because they made his share smaller -than anybody else's. - -"Yit," said he, "I've got to march just as far as any of you, carry just -as big a gun, and do just as much shootin'." - -"You're wrong," said the medical-minded Alf Russell. "You ought to have -less than the others, because you're smaller. The littler and younger -the person the smaller the dose, always." - -"No," acceded the farmer Jim Humphreys. "Tain't natural, nor right. You -don't give a colt as much feed as you do a grown horse. Anybody knows -that." - -"Pete's plea is sound," contraverted the legal-minded Monty Scruggs. -"All men are equal before the law, though they mayn't be a foot high. -Rations are a matter of law, and the law's no respecter of persons." - -"Rations is intended," persisted Alf, "to give a man what he needs to -eat—nothing more, nothing less. Pete don't need as much as a man; why -give it to him? There'd be just as much sense in giving him the clothes -for a six-footer." - -"All o' you are always imposin' on me 'cause I'm little," whimpered -Pete. "And that stuck-up Alf Russell's the worst of all. Just because -he's goin' to be a doctor, and leads in singin' at church, he thinks he -knows more'n the man what writ the arithmetic, and he's down on me -because I won't take all he says for law and gospel, in spite of his -airs. Jim Humphreys is down on me, because I writ home that I'd shot a -man back there at the burnt bridge, and Jim got skeered at a coon- -huntin' nigger." - -"Never mind, Pete," said Monty consolingly, "none o' them shall impose -on you while I'm around. Now, Alf, you and Jim give Pete just as much as -the rest, or I'll make you." - -"Who'll you make, you brindle steer?" said Alf, laying down his bread -and bristling up. - -"Stand back, Alf; he meant me," said Jim, disposing his meat, and -approaching Monty with doubled fists. "Now, Mister Scruggs, le's see you -do some makin', since you're so brash." - -"Here, stop that, you little scamps," shouted Si, whose attention had -been so far devoted to quieting Harry and Gid, and showing them how to -prepare their traps for marching. "Great Scott, can't you git along -without fightin'? I'm goin' to take you where you'll git real fightin' -enough to satisfy you. - -"Go ahead, there, and divide them rations, as I ordered you, and be -quick about it, for we must hurry off." - -The mention of real fighting immediately sobered up the boys, and made -them forget their squabbles. They hurried about their work with -quickened zeal. - -"Now," said Si, "pack your rations carefully in your haversacks, just as -you see me and Corpril Elliott doin'. First, keep your sugar, coffee and -salt separate. Put 'em in little tin boxes, like these, and see that the -lids are on tight. Hurry up, now. Shorty, you'd better look over the -boxes, and go up and draw as many cartridges as you think we'll need." - -The mention of need for cartridges was an electric impulse which set the -boys keenly alive. They bundled their rations into their haversacks, and -flung their blanket rolls over their shoulders, and were standing in a -state of palpitating expectancy, when Shorty came back with his hands -full of cartridges, which he proceeded to distribute. - -"Take arms," commanded Si. "Forward!—March!" - -Si and Shorty started off with their long, easy campaign stride, which, -in some incomprehensible way that the veteran only learns by practice, -brought their feet down every time in exactly the right place, avoiding -all stumbling-blocks, and covering without apparent effort a long -distance in the course of an hour. The boys pattered industriously -after, doing their best to keep up, but stumbling over roots and stones, -and slipping on steep places, and dropping to the rear in spite of -themselves. - -When Si made the customary halt at the end of the first hour, his little -command was strung back for a quarter of a mile, and little Pete -Skidmore was out of sight. - -"Better go back and look for little Pete, Shorty," said Si. "We seem to -be losin' him." - -Pete was soon brought up, panting and tired. - -"Dod durn it, what're you all runnin' away from me for?" he gasped. -"Want to lose me? Want to git into the fight all by yourselves, and -leave me out? Think because I'm little I can't help? I kin shoot as well -as anybody in the crowd, dod durn you." - -"There, you see the nonsense o' giving you as much rations as the -others," suggested Alf Russell. "You can't pack 'em, and you wouldn't -need 'em if you did pack 'em." - -"What business is it of yours. Mister Russell, I'd like to know," asked -Monty Scruggs, "what he does with his rations. His rations are his -rights, and he's entitled to 'em. It's nobody's business what use a man -makes of his rights." - -"Where are these rebels that we're goin' to fight?" asked Harry Joslyn, -eagerly scanning the horizon. "I've been looking for 'em all along, but -couldn't see none. Was you in such a hurry for fear they'd get away, and -have they got away?" - -"I wasn't in no hurry," answered Si. "That was only regler marchin' -gait." - -"Holy smoke," murmured the rest, wiping their foreheads; "we thought you -was trying to run the rebels down." - -"Don't be discouraged, boys," said Si. "You'll soon git used to marchin' -that way right along, and never thinking of it. It may seem a little -hard now, but it won't last long. I guess you're rested enough. -Attention! Forward!—March!" - -Si and Shorty had mercifully intended to slow down a little, and not -push the boys. But as they pulled out they forgot themselves, and fell -again into their long, swinging stride, that soon strung the boys out -worse than ever, especially as they were not now buoyed up by an -expectation of meeting the enemy. - -"We must march slower. Si," said Shorty, glancing ruefully back, "or -we'll lose every blamed one o' them boys. They're too green yit." - -"That's so," accorded Si. "It's like tryin' to make a grass-bellied -horse run a quarter-stretch." - -"Might I inquire," asked Monty Scruggs, as he came up, wiped his face -and sat down on a rock, "whether this is what you'd call a forced march, -or merely a free-will trial trot for a record." - -"Neither," answered Si. "It's only a common, straight, every-day march -out into the country. You kin count upon one a day like this for the -rest o' your natural lives—I mean your service. It's part o' what you -enlisted for. And this's only a beginnin'. Some days you'll have to keep -this up 15 or 18 hours at a stretch." - -There was a general groan of dismay. - -"Gracious, I wish I'd wings, or that I'd enlisted in the cavalry," -sighed Harry. - -"Brace up! Brace up!" said Shorty. "You'll soon git used to it, and make -your 40 miles a day like the rest of us, carrying your bed-clothes and -family groceries with you. It's all in gittin' used to it, as the man -said who'd bin skinnin' eels for 40 years, and that now they didn't mind -it a bit." - -"Well, le's jog along," said Si. "We ought to git there in another hour. -There's a big rain comin' up, and we want to git under cover before it -strikes us. Forward!—March!" - -But the rain was nearer that Si thought. It came, as the Spring rains -come in the North Georgia mountains—as if Niagara had been shifted into -the clouds overhead. The boys were literally washed off the road, and -clung to saplings to avoid being carried away into the brush. - -"I'll fall back and keep the boys together," said Shorty, as soon as an -intermission allowed them to speak. - -"Alright," said Si. "Look out for little Pete." And Si began to forge -stolidly ahead. - -"Goodness, Sarjint, you're not going to travel in such a storm as this," -gasped Gid Mackall. - -"Certainly," Si called back. "Come on. We've got to reach that mill -tonight, no matter what happens. You'd might as well be drowned marchin' -as standin' still. 'Tain't rainin' no worse further ahead than here. -Forward!" - -Close Up, Boys. 111 - -"Close up, boys," said Shorty, taking little Pete's gun and the -youngster's hand. "This's only a Spring shower. 'Tain't nothin' to what -we had on the Tullyhomy Campaign. There the drops was as big as punkins, -and come as thick as the grains on a ear o' corn. Close up, there; dodge -the big drops, and go ahead." - -"Hold on to me tight! Hold on to me!" clamored little Pete. "If you -don't I'll be washed away and lost for sure." - -"Come along, Peter, my son," Shorty assured him. - -"I hain't never lost no children yit, and I hain't goin' to begin with -you." - -The storm grew more violent every minute, limbs were torn from the -trees, and fell with a crash, and torrents rushed down from the mountain -side, across the road. Si strode on resolutely, as if the disturbance -were nothing more than a Summer zephyr. He waded squarely through the -raging streams, turning at times to help the next boy to him, strode -over the fallen limbs, and took the dashing downpour with stolid -indifference. - -"Close up, boys! Close up!" shouted Shorty from time to time, "Don't -mind a little sprinkle like this. It'll lay the dust, and make marchin' -easier. Come along, Peter, my son. I'm not goin' to lose you." - -Night suddenly came, with pitchy darkness, but Si steadily forged -onward. Then the rain ceased as suddenly as it began, but the road was -encumbered with fallen timber and swirling races of muddy water. They -seemed more uncomfortable even than when the rain was falling. They were -now nearing the mill, and the sound of a fitful musketry fire came to -their ears. - -"They've sneaked up in the storm to attack the mill," Si called out to -Shorty. "Close up and prepare for action." - -"Goodness," gasped Gid Mackall, much of whose vim had been soaked out of -him by the fearful downpour, and who was oppressed by fatigue, hunger, -and the dense blackness of the night in the strange woods. "You don't -have to fight when you're wetter'n a drowned rat, and so tired you're -ready to drop, do you?" - -"That's what you do," said Shorty, wiping off his musket. "That's the -way you'll have to do most o' your fightin'. The miserabler you feel the -miserabler you want to make the other fellers feel. Boys, turn your guns -upside down and let the water run out. Then half-cock 'em, and blow into -'em to clean the water out o' the tubes. Then find a dry rag somewhere -about you, and wipe off the nipples. We want every gun to go off when -the order is given. Don't anybody load till Si gives the order." - -The drenched but excited boys followed his directions with nervous -haste. Shorty took one gun after another and examined it, while Si went -forward a little ways to reconnoiter. The calm deliberation of the -partners steadied the nervous boys. - -"Load," called back Si, from the vantage ground of a little knoll, upon -which he was standing, trying to see into the darkness beyond. A volley -from out in front responded to the sound of his voice, and bullets -knocked bark off the big chestnut behind which he had shrewdly taken -refuge. - -"Jest as I expected, Si," Shorty called back to him. "The rebels have -throwed back a squad to watch for us." - -"Yes," said Si, coolly, as he stepped back to meet the boys. "There -ain't but 10 o' them, though. I counted every flash and located 'em. -They're all in a bunch right over there by a dead tree to the left. Move -up there quick, aim a little to the left. Aim low, and fire just as we -reach the rise. I'll fire first, and the rest of you foller. Try to hit -something, every one of you." - - - - - -CHAPTER X. THE BOYS HAVE A COUPLE OF LITTLE SKIRMISHES BUT FINALLY GET -TO THE MILL. - -THE time and the surroundings were such as to bring the spirits of the -boys to their lowest ebb. - -The gloomy, mysterious woods seemed a world's distance away from their -homes, friends and assistance. - -The long, tiresome tramp, the violent rainstorm, which had soaked them -to their skins, and apparently found its way to their hearts; the muddy, -slippery road, with torrents rushing across it, the splashing, searching -rivulets from the boughs overhead, were all deeply depressing. - -The boys huddled together, as if to gain courage by closer contact. - -"Gracious, I never supposed they'd pull off a fight at night, when -everybody was tired to death and soaked to a gruel," said Alf Russell in -a shivery whisper. - -"They fought at Hohenlinden at night, and on the snow," answered Monty -Scruggs. "But snow's not so bad as rain, and, then, they didn't have -these awful woods. I'd feel much better if we was out in a clearing -somewhere." - -"Come into line to the left, there," commanded Si, in a low tone. -"Deploy, one pace apart. Shorty, take the left out there in the bushes. -Don't make no noise, step carefully, and don't shoot till I do." - -"Keep near me, Pete, and you won't git lost," said Shorty, as he stepped -off into the brush. - -—"Must I shoot the same time you do, or wait till you shoot?" asked -Pete, who seemed less depressed by his surroundings than the others, and -mainly eager to get a chance to shoot. - -"Don't watch me," cautioned Shorty. "Watch the fellers you are shootin' -at, and try to hit 'em. Fire just as soon as you want to after you hear -the others." - -"I'll bet I'll hit a rebel if anybody does," said Pete with hopeful -animation. - -They tramped forward a few steps over the spongy ground, and through the -dripping bushes. - -The musketry fire continued fitfully around the mill in the distance. - -They came to the summit of the little rise. - -"Hist—halt; lay down, quick," called the watchful Si, in a penetrating -voice. "They've loaded agin', and are about to shoot." - -He and Shorty were down on their faces as he spoke. The others obeyed -more slowly and clumsily. The rebel volley cut the limbs and bushes over -their heads, and whistled viciously through the damp air and the -darkness. - -As little Pete dropped to the ground, his nervous finger touched the -trigger and his gun went off up in the air. The others took this as a -cue, and banged away as rapidly as they could get their muskets off. - -Only Si and Shorty, in dropping, had kept the lay of the ground in view, -and without rising they deliberately aimed their pieces whither the -volley had come and fired. A suppressed yell of pain came from the other -side. - -"We salted one of 'em, anyway," chuckled Shorty, as he raised on his -knee to reload his gun. - -"Gosh all Chrismus," said Si, using his most formidable swear-word, for -he was very angry. "What was you brats shootin' at? Squirrels or angels? -A rebel'd had to be 80 cubits high, like old Haman, for one o' you to've -hit him. Lots o' good o' your packin' around guns and cartridges, if -you're goin' to waste your ammynition on the malaria in the clouds. Load -agin, now, carefully, and when you shoot agin be sure to fetch -something. I'll take my ramrod to the next boy that I ketch shootin' -higher'n a man's head. This ain't no Fourth-o'-July business. Our job's -te kill them whangdoodles over there, and I want you to 'tend strictly -to that." - -The threat of a real boyish thrashing and the cool, matter-of-fact way -that Si and Shorty conducted themselves—precisely as if chopping trees -or mowing a field—steadied the boys wonderfully. - -"They're about ready to shoot agin," Si spoke down the line, in a -penetrating whisper. "Everybody hug the ground, and watch the flashes. -Each feller git a good line on the flash straight in front of him, and -let the hound have a chunk o' lead just below his belt. If you're all -real good, and shoot just right, I'll take you on a rush right at them -fellers, and we'll scatter what's left like a flock o' quail. Lay low. -There it comes agin. Lay low." - -An irregular volley burnt out in the blackness beyond. The bullets sang -around much closer than before, and several of them struck near Si, one -landing in the leaves and moss directly in front of him, and throwing a -wet sprinkle in his face. - -"Like the parrot, I was talkin' too much and too loud," thought Si. -"They wuz all reachin' for me, and one feller made a mighty good line -shot. Le's see if I can't better him." - -He drew down in his sights as carefully as he could in the darkness, and -pulled the trigger. As the smoke thinned out a little he thought he saw -something beyond which indicated a man staggering and falling. - -This time the boys seemed to be firing effectively. There was a -commotion in the woods beyond, and the sound of groans on the damp air. - -"Raise up!" shouted Si. "Forward! Forward! Jump 'em. Jump 'em before -they kin load agin!" - -Loading his gun with the practiced ease of a veteran as he rushed -forward, Si led his squad directly against the position of the rebels. -Part of the rebels had promptly run away, as they heard Si order the -charge, but part boldly stood their ground, and were nervously -reloading, or fixing bayonets, as the squad came crashing through the -brush. One of the rebels fired a hasty, ineffectual shot, and by its -light Shorty saw the nervous little Pete, who had torn off his cumbering -haversack, letting his hat go with it, slip between him and Si, and gain -a pace in advance. - -"Git back, you little rat," said Shorty, reaching out a long arm, -catching the boy by the collar, and yanking him back. "Git behind me and -stay there." - -The flash revealed another rebel fumbling for a cap. Shorty's gun came -down, and the rebel fell, shot through the shoulder. The rebel leader, a -long haired, lathy man, with the quickness of a wildcat, sprang at Si -with his bayonet fixed. Heavy-footed and deliberate as Si usually was, -when the electricity of a fight was in him there was no lack of -celerity. He caught the rebel's bayonet on his musket-barrel and warded -it off so completely that the rebel shot by him in the impetus of his -own rush. As he passed Si delivered a stunning blow on the back of his -head with his gun-barrel. - -"That zouave drill was a mighty good thing, after all," thought Si, as -he turned from his prostrate foe to the others. - -While this was going on, the boys were imitating Shorty's example, -getting their guns loaded, and banging away as fast as they did so into -the rebels, who went down under the shots, or ran off, leaving one of -their number, a tall, lank mountaineer, who seemed beside himself with -rage. He had grasped his empty gun by the stock, and was swinging it -around his head, yelling fierce insults and defiance to the whole race -o' Yankees. - -"Come on, you infernal pack o' white-livered, nigger-stealin', house- -robbin', hell-desarvin' hypocrites," he shouted. "I kin lick the hull -bilin' o' yo'uns. This is my wounded pardner here, and yo'uns can't have -neither me nor him till yo'uns down me, which y' can't do. Come on, y' -pigeon-livered cowards." - -The boys who had pressed lip near him, shrank back a little, out of -possible range of that violently brandished musket, and began loading -their guns. - -Shorty had stopped for an instant to turn over into an easier position -the rebel he had shot. - -Si paced up. His gun was loaded, and he could have easily brought the -rebel down. But the rebel's devotion to his partner touched him. - -Don't Anybody Shoot. 119 - -"Don't shoot, boys," he commanded; "leave me to 'tend to him. Say, -Johnny," he addressed the rebel, in a placatory way, "don't make a fool -o' yourself. Come down, we've got you, dead. Drop that gun." - -"Go to brimstone blazes," shouted the rebel. "If yo'uns have got me, why -don't y' take me. I kin lick the hull caboodle o' y' sneakin' mulatters. -Come on, why don't y'?" - -"Give him a wad, Si," said Shorty, reloading his own gun. "We haint no -time to lose. They need us over there." - -"No, don't anybody shoot," commanded Si; "he's just crazy about his -partner. He's too brave a man to kill. Say, Johnny, have a little sense. -We haint goin' to hurt your partner, nor you, if you'll behave. Drop -that gun at once, and surrender." - -"Go to blazes," retorted the rebel, swinging his gun more wildly than -ever. "Yo'uns is all liars. No dependence kin be placed on y'. If y' -want me, come and git me."' - -Shorty had begun to think the thing somewhat humorous. "Look here, -Johnny," said he, "wouldn't you like a big chaw o' navy terbacker—bright -plug. Genuine Yankee plug? Swingin' that ere gun that way is awful -tiresome." - -"Eh—What's that?" said the rebel, startled by the new proposition and -its coolness. - -"I say, don't you want a big chaw o' terbacker? You must need it. I -always do after I've bin workin' hard. Drop your gun, and have one with -me. We're Injiannians, and we don't mean no harm to your partner, nor to -you. We'll take care o' him, if he's hurt. Here, cut your own chaw." - -"Air yo'uns from Injianny?" said the rebel, bringing his gun down to a -less menacing attitude. "I've done got two brothers in Injianny, and I -hear they'uns 've done inlisted in Yankee rijiments. Mebbe yo'uns know -'em." - -"Mebbe we do," said Shorty, handing him a long plug and his knife. "But -we hain't time to talk it over now. We'll do that in the mornin', when -business ain't so pressin'. Le' me hold your gun while you cut your -terbacker." - -"Now, look here," said Si, "time's jumpin', and we must talk quick. If -we parole you, will you stay here, and take care o' your partner and the -others, and be here in the mornin', when we send for you?" - -"You won't send for me, if yo'uns is a-gwine on ter fout we'uns up at -the mill. We'uns chaw yo'uns up, or run y' outen the country." - -"We'll take care o' that," said Si sharply. "Will you promise on your -honor to stay with these men, and take care o' them till daylight, if we -don't come sooner?" - -"Sartin,—'pon honor," answered the rebel, with his mouth full of -tobacco. - -"All right, then. Load at will. Load! Forward!—March!" commanded Si. - -Si moved on cautiously, for he feared that the runaways had told those -attacking the mill about his advance, and would bring them all down upon -him. The dying down of the firing about the mill confirmed this opinion. -He warned his boys to make as little noise as possible, and went ahead -of them some distance, to reconnoiter, slipping along the side of the -road, under the shadow of the trees. He arranged a system of signals -with Shorty, by which one click of his gunlock meant halt, and two to -come ahead. Presently he came in sight of the broad race which ran to -the mill. The starlight was sufficient to show its width and its banks, -with the logs lying along, which had been cut when it was dug. A bridge -crossed the race for the road to the mill. Beyond the ground rose -sharply, and looking at the crest against the sky, he could see the -rebels, one by one, file over, and come down to where they could crouch -behind the logs and ambuscade the bridge. - -Si clicked his gunlock, and waited till he had counted 25 rebels -gathered there, which seemed to be all, as no more appeared. Then he -slipped back to Shorty, and hurriedly explained the situation. - -The boys listened with sinking hearts. More than three times as many -rebels as they themselves numbered, and perhaps fiercer and stronger -than those they had already encountered. - -The elation of their recent victory subsided. Again the woods became -ominously dark and gloomy, the soaking dampness very depressing. They -huddled together to brace each other up. - -"Si," said Shorty, "didn't you say that it was a squad o' the Maumee -Muskrats in the mill, and that we wuz goin' to relieve 'em." - -"Yes, and the Orderly said that railroad 'Mick'—Hennessey—was the -Sarjint in command." - -"O, that bog-trottin' old section boss, that hairy-handed artist with -the long shovel, is there, is he with his crucifix and his prayers to -the Saints. That's all right. He's bin stormin' and swearin' ever since -the fight begun; because he's bin obliged to stay inside and shoot, and -instid of making a grand rush and settling things, according to -Donnybrook Fair rules. I tell you what you do. You work the boys -carefully down through the brush toward the race, and git 'em into -position in easy range of the rebels, covering 'em behind logs. I'll -take a circuit around to the left, and git over to the hill, behind the -rebels, and near enough the mill for Hennessey to hear me. Then I'll -fire a shot and yell for Hennessey. He knows my voice, and he'll bring -his men out like a pack o' hornets. Then you let into the rebels from -your side. They can't git across the race at you, and we'll have 'em -where we kin whipsaw 'em." - -"Shorty," said Si admiringly, "Gen. Grant 'll hear o' you some day, and -then Co. Q will lose its brightest star, but the army'll gain a great -General." - -"I know it; I know it," said Shorty, modestly; "but don't stop to talk -about it now. I think I've got the lay o' the mill in mind. I'll just -cut around that way. Don't shoot till you hear me." - -Si quietly deployed his boys to the left of the road, and worked them -through the brush until they came to the crest overlooking the mill- -race. They took readily to this sort of work. They had all hunted -rabbits over the hills of southern Indiana, and they came into position -so softly that the rebels beyond did not suspect their presence. - -Then came a long wait for the signal from Shorty. The rebels seemed to -get tired first. Presently they could be seen moving around, and Si had -hard work restraining his squad from shooting at the tempting marks. -Then the rebels began talking, at first in murmurs, and then louder. -There seemed to be a division of opinion among them. Those who had been -run back were sure that the Yankee were coming on to the relief of their -comrades in the mill. The others thought that their comrades had run the -other away just as fast. - -"I tell you, hit's no use to wait for they'uns no longer," said one -strong voice. "Them Yankees is runnin' back to their camps as fast as -they'uns's legs 'll carry they'uns. If yo'uns 'd had any sand, and stood -yer ground, you'd 'a seed 'em. But yo' yaller hammers allers git the -ager when ever a cap's busted, and run yer rabbit-gizzards out." - -"Y're a liar," hotly responded another voice. "Thar was more'n 50 o' -them Yankees, if thar was a man. We fit 'em awful, before we give away, -and they'd killed Burt Dolson and Bob Whittyker, and I don't know how -many more. They come bulgin' right on toward the mill, arter they'd -reformed. I know hit, bekase Eph and me staid and watched 'em, and shot -at 'em, till we thought hit best to run back and warn ye." - -"Ye wuz in a powerful hurry to warn us," sneered the other. "Well, -thar's no Yankees over thar, and none haint a-comin' till daylight. I've -ketched all the ager and rhematiz here that I'm a-gwine ter. Le's go -back and salivate them fellers in the mill, and set fire to it." - -This seemed to be the prevailing sentiment, and Si began to fear that -they would all go, and might intercept Shorty. He was on the point of -ordering the boys to fire, and attract their attention, when Shorty's -rifle rang out, and the next instant came a roar from Shorty's powerful -lungs, with each word clear and distinct: - -"Hennessy—you—red—mouthed—Mick—come out. The 200th Injianny is—here. -Come out—with a rush—you—imported spalpeen—and jump—'em—in—the—rear!" - -"Now, boys," commanded Si, "keep cool, pick your man, and fire low. I'm -goin' to take the feller that's bin doin' the big talkin'." - -Each of the boys had already picked his man, and was eagerly waiting the -word. Their fire threw their enemies into confusion, and as their guns -rattled, the barricaded doors of the mill were thrown open, and -Hennessey rushed out with a wild Irish "hurroo." The rebels -incontinently fled, without an attempt at resistance. - -After it was ascertained that every unhurt rebel was running for dear -life to get away, after Hennessey and his squad had gathered up the -wounded and carried them into the mill, and after the boys had yelled -themselves hoarse over their victory gained with such unexpected ease, -they suddenly remembered that they were so tired that they could -scarcely drag one foot after another, and hungrier than young wolves at -the end of a hard Winter. - -"Gewhillikins," murmured Jim Humphreys, "I wonder when we're going to -have supper. I'm as holler as a stovepipe." - -"You've got your suppers in your haversacks," said Si. "We'll go into -the mill and build a fire and make some coffee and fry some meat." - -"In my haversack," said Jim ruefully, after they had entered the mill, -and he had run his hand into his forgotten haversack, and withdrawn it -covered with a viscid greasy mush. "My haversack's full o' water, that's -soaked everything else in it to a gruel." - -"So's mine; so's mine," echoed the rest, as they examined. - -"Confound it," said Si' wrathfully, as he looked into one after another. -"Didn't none o' you have sense enough to fasten down the covers -carefully, so's to keep the water out? Here it is—salt and sugar and -coffee, bread and greasy pork all in one nasty mess. I declare, you -don't seem to have the sense you wuz born with. You've bin breakin' -yourselves down luggin' around 10 or 15 pounds o' water, besides spilin' -your rations." - -"Probably Sarjint Hennessey has some rations that he kin give us," -suggested Shorty, who was genuinely sorry for the poor boys. - -"Dade I haint—not a smidgeon," answered Hennessey. "We ixpicted ye's to -git here this forenoon and relieve us, and we et up ivery spoonful of -our grub for breakfast, so's to lighten us for a quick march back to -camp. They've not bin runnin' in the mill for several days, and've -carted off ivery bit of the male they ground. We're nigh starved -oursilves, but we've had a lovely little foight, and we forgive ye's for -not coming airlier. Oi wouldn't 've missed that last rush on thim -divil's for a month's double rations." - -"Well," said Si, encouragingly, "we'll have to make mine and Shorty's -rations go around as well as they kin, among all of you. Fish the meat -out o' your haversacks, boys, and wash the dope off it. It ain't spiled, -anyway. We kin each of us have a little to eat tonight, and we'll trust -to Providence for termorrer." - - - - - -CHAPTER XI. SHORTY GIVES THE BOYS THEIR FIRST LESSON IN FORAGING. - -WITH the elasticity of youth the boys slept away their fatigue during -the night, but woke up the next morning ravenously hungry. - -"What in the world are we goin' to do for grub, Si?" asked Shorty, as -soon as he got his eyes fairly open. - -"Oi know what Oi'm goin' to do," said Hennessey. "Oi'm goin to show the -foinest pace av shprinting back to camp that has been sane in these -parts since our roight bruk that day at Chickamaugy. No grass'll grow -under me fate, Oi tell yez. And as I pass through your camp Oi'll foind -yer Captain, and tell the fix you're in, and to sind out some rations." - -"But even if he does send them at once, they can't git here till -evenin', and I hate powerfully to let him and the rest know that we -didn't have sense enough to take care o' our victuals after we'd drawed -'em," said Si. - -"If it was only one, or even two days, I'd let the boys starve it out, -as a good lesson to 'em," said Shorty. "But three seems like cruelty to -dumb beasts." - -"But what'll they say about us in camp?" groaned Si. "They'll have the -grand laugh on me and you, and every one o' the boys. I'd ruther go on -quarter rations for a month than stand the riggin' they'll give us, and -have Capt. McGillicuddy give me one look when he asks the question about -how we come to lose all our rations so soon? He'll think me a purty -Sarjint to send out into the country in charge o' men, and you a fine -Corpril." - -"Say," said Shorty, his face illuminated with a bright idea. "We might -report the rations 'lost in action.' That'd fix it fine. We had two good -fights, and come out ahead. That'll tickle the Captain so that he won't -be partickler what we report." - -"Hurroo!" echoed Hennessey; "that's the ticket." - -"But we didn't lose 'em in action, and to say so'd be a lie," answered -Si, whose conscience had none of the easy elasticity of his partner's. -"We could report 'em burnt up by lightnin','but we won't. They was lost -by sheer, dumbed carelessness, that me and you and the boys should -knowed better than to've allowed. That's all there is of it, and that's -what I'm goin' to report, if I have to." - -"Great Jehosephat," exploded Shorty; "you kin certainly be the -stubbornest mule over nothin', Si Klegg, that I ever seen. We've done -fightin' enough to excuse sich a report, or any that we've a mind to -make." - -"Nothin' kin justify a lie," persisted the obdurate Si. - -"Holy smoke! bigger men than you—lots bigger—have squared up their -accounts that way. Didn't all the Captains in the rijiment, and the -Quartermaster and Commissary, and, for what I know, the Chaplain and the -Colonel, git clean bills o' health after the battle o' Stone River, by -reportin' everything that they couldn't find 'lost in action?'" - -"Yis," added Hennessey, "and didn't my Captain, after Chickamaugy, git -us all new uniforms and complete kits, by reportin' iverything 'lost in -action?' Smart man, my Captain, Oi tell yez." - -"Well, I don't think any the more o' them for it. We spiled our rations -before the fightin' begun, they'd bin spiled if there'd bin no fightin', -and I haint going to send no other words, if I've got to send any word." - -"Who the divil's goin' to carry this word, Oi'd like to know, Misther -Klegg?" broke in Hennessey. "Are you goin' to put words into my mouth, -Misther Klegg? Oi'll tell your Captain just fwhat Oi plaze, about you -and your foight and your rations. Oi want no more worrids wid ye. -Attintion, min! Shoulder, a-r-m-s! Roight face! Forward, foile left!—M- -a-r-c-h!" - -"I s'pose I ain't responsible for any o' the fairy tales with which that -wild Mick'll fill up the Captain," said Si, self-consolingly, as -Hennessey and his squad marched away in quick time. "He'll put a rich, -red, County Connaught color on everything that's happened out here, and -the Captain'll believe as much as suits him. Anyhow, Hennessey'll not -say anything to our disadvantage, and probably the Captain'll send out -some rations by fast mule express." - -"Yes," accorded Shorty; "we'll git some rations from camp by this -evenin'. Cap will look out for that. Meanwhile, I'll take out two or -three o' the boys on a scout into the country, to see if we can't pick -up something to eat." - -"Humph," said Si, skeptically, "you'll find mighty poor pickin', after -them Ohio boys 's bin out here three days. What they haint taken has -been rooted in the ground." - -"Yes; they're awful foragers and thieves," assented Shorty. "All Ohio -boys is. I'm glad I'm from Injianny. Still, I've generally bin able to -find something, even after the Ohio boys had bin there." - -"Well, I think we'd better first go back and see about them rebels that -we wounded last night. They may be sufferin' awfully, and we oughtn't to -think about something to eat, before doin' what we kin for them." - -"That's so," assented Shorty. "I'd a-gone back last night, but we was -all so dead tired." - -"Well, I'll take two o' the boys and go back. You stay here with the -rest, and hold the mill. I'll git back as soon's I kin, and then you kin -take a couple o' the boys and go out foragin'." - -Calling Alf Russell and Monty Scruggs to follow him, Si started back to -the scene of the skirmish of the night before. The woods looked totally -different, under the bright Spring sunshine, from what they had seemed -in the chill, wet blackness of the previous night. Buds were bursting -and birds singing, and all nature seemed very blithe and inspiring. - -"Gracious, what a difference daylight makes in the woods," murmured -Monty Scruggs. "Tain't a bit like Hohenlinden. - -"'Tis morn, but scarce yon lurid sun Can pierce the war-clouds rolling -dun, Where furious Frank and fiery Hun Shout 'mid their sulphurous -canopy." - -"You'd think, from the way the bird 's singing, and the flowers -blooming, that there'd never been a gun fired within a hundred miles o' -here." - -"Seems like we only dreamed all that happened last night," accorded Alf -Russell. "There's nothing in the woods or the ground that looks as it -did then, and I can't hardly make myself believe that this is the way we -come." - -"Well, here's something that'll convince you it wasn't a dream," said -Si, as they made their way through the broken and trampled brush, and -came to a little knoll, on which the final fight had been made, and -where were gathered the wounded rebels. There were three of these; the -man whom Shorty had shot in the shoulder, the one whom Si knocked down -by a stunning blow on the head, and the one who had been hit in the -thigh by a shot from the boys, and who was the "pardner" of the -recalcitrant man of the previous evening. He was still there, caring for -his comrades. The men who had been shot were so faint from loss of blood -that they could scarcely move, and the man whom Si had struck was only -slowly recovering consciousness. - -The unhurt rebel was standing there with his gun in hand, and had -apparently been watching their approach for some time. - -"My parole was out at daylight," he said, as they came up. "The sun's -now nearly an hour high. I ain't obleeged to be good no more, and I -could' 've drapped one o' yo'uns when y' fust turned offen the road, and -got away. I s'pose I'd orter've done hit, and I'd a great mind ter, but -suthin' sorter held me back. Onderstand that?" - -"You'd a' bin a nice man to've shot at us when we wuz comin' to help -your comrades," said Si, walking up coolly toward him, and getting near -enough to prevent his leveling his gun, while he held his own ready for -a quick blow with the barrel. "We needn't've come back here at all, -except that we felt it right to take care o' the men that got hurt." - -"Come back to take keer o' the men that yo'uns swatted last night?" said -the rebel incredulously. "That haint natural. 'Taint Yankee-like. What'd -yo'uns keer for 'em, 'cept to see if they'uns's dead yit, and mebbe gin -'em a prod with the bayonit to help 'em along? But they'uns's mouty nigh -dead, now. They'uns can't last much longer. But I'll kill the fust one -o' yo'uns that tries to prod one o' they'uns with a bayonit. Let -they'uns alone. They'll soon be gone." - -"What're you talkin' about, you dumbed fool?" said Si, irritably. "We -haint no Injuns nor heathens, to kill wounded men. We're Injiannians and -Christians, what read the Bible, and foller what it says about lovin' -your enemies, and carin' for them what despitefully use you—that is, -after you've downed 'em good and hard." - -"Does your Bible say that ere?" asked the rebel. - -"Yes, indeed." - -"Well, hit must be a new-fangled kind of a Yankee Bible. The only Bible -I ever seed was a piece o' one that used t' be in dad's house, and I've -done heared strangers read hit aloud hundreds o' times, and hit said -nothin' like that. Hit had lots in it 'bout killin' every man and man- -child, and hewin' 'em to pieces afore the Lord, but nothin' 'bout lovin' -and takin' keer o' them that wuz fernest ye." - -"Well, it's in there, all the same," said Si impatiently, "and you must -mind it, same's we do. Come, drop that gun, and help us take care o' -these men. They ain't goin' to die. We won't let 'em. They're all right. -Just faint from loss o' blood. We kin fix 'em up. Set your gun agin' -that beech there, and go to the branch and git some water to wash their -wounds, and we'll bring 'em around all right." - -There was something so masterful in Si's way, that the rebel obeyed. Si -set his own gun down against a hickory, in easy reach, and had the boys -do the same. He had naturally gained a good deal of knowledge of rough -surgery in the army, and he proceeded to put it to use. He washed the -wounds, stayed the flow of blood, and to take the rising fever out of -the hurts, he bound on them fresh, green dockleaves, wet with water. -After the man he had struck had had his face washed, and his head -thoroughly doused with cold water, he recovered rapidly and was soon -able to sit up, and then rise weakly to his feet. - -The rebel looked on wonderingly. - -"Well, yo'uns is as good doctrin' hurts as ole Sary Whittleton, and -she's a natural bone-setter," he said. - -"Well, don't stand around and gawk,", said Si snappishly. "Help. What's -your name?" - -"Gabe Brimster." - -"Well, Gabe, go down to the branch and git some more water, quick as you -kin move them stumps o' your'n. Give the men all they want to drink, and -then pour some on their wounds. Then go there and cut some o' them -pawpaws, and peel their bark, to make a litter to carry your pardner -back to the mill. Boys, look around for guns. Smash all you kin find on -that rock there, so they won't be of no more use. Bust the locks good, -and bend the barrels. Save two to make the handles of the litter." - -Si proceeded to deftly construct a litter out of the two guns, with some -sticks that he cut with a knife, and bound with pawpaw strips. - -A few days before, Si, while passing near the hospital, saw a weak -convalescent faint and fall. He rushed to the Surgeon's tent, and that -officer being busy, handed him a small bottle with a metal top, and -filled with strong ammonia, telling him to unscrew the top and hold the -bottle under the man's nose. He did so, with the effect of reviving him. -Si thrust the bottle into his pocket, to help the man back to the -hospital, and forgot all about it, until one after another of his -present patients overdid himself, had a relapse, and fainted away. Si -happened to feel his bottle, drew it out, unscrewed the top, thrust it -under their noses, and revived them. - -Gabs's eyes opened wider at each performance. He had never seen a bottle -with a metal top, or one that unscrewed, or anything that seemed to -effect such wonderful changes by merely pointing it at a man. His -mountaineer intellect, prone to "spells" and "charms," saw in it at once -an instrument of morta: witchcraft. With a paling face, he began edging -toward his gun. Busy as Si had been, he had kept constantly in mind the -possibility of Gabe's attempting some mischief, and did not let himself -lose sight of the rebel's gun. He quickly rose, and with a few strides, -placed himself between Gabe and his gun. - -Mr. Yank, Don't Conjure Me. 135 - -"Where are you goin'?" he said sternly. - -"I'm a-gwine away," replied the man, in terror-stricken accents. "I'm a- -gwine away mouty quick. I don't want to stay here no longer." - -"Indeed you're not goin' away. You'll stay right with us, and help us -take care o' your comrades." - -"I'm a-gwine away, I tell y'," shrieked Gabe. "I'm gwine right away. I'm -skeered o' yo'uns. Yo'uns is no doctor, nor no sojer. Yo'uns is a -conjure-man, and a Yankee conjure-man, too—wust kind. Yo'uns 've bin -puttin' spells on them men, and yo'uns'll put a spell on me. I've felt -hit from the fust. I'm a-gwine away. Le'me go, quick." - -Si caught the man roughly by the shoulder with his left hand, and raised -his right threateningly. It still had the bottle in it. "You're not -goin' a step, except with us," he said. "Go back there, and 'tend to -your business as I told you, or I'll break you in two." - -The sight of the dreadful bottle pointed at him completely unnerved the -rebel. He fell on his knees. - -"O, Mister Yank—Mister Conjure-man! don't put no spell on me. Pray to -God, don't! I had one on me wunst, when I was little, and liked to've -died from hit. I haint no real rebel. I wuz conscripted into the army, -or I wouldn't be foutin' yo'uns. I won't fout no more, if yo'uns'll not -put a spell on me. 'Deed I won't! I swar to God I wont!" - -And he raised his right hand in testimony. - -"Put a spell on you? Conjure you? What dumbed nonsense!" ejaculated Si, -and then his eyes caught the rebel's fastened on the bottle in his hand, -and a gleam of the meaning entered his mind. He had no conception of the -dread the mountaineers have of being "conjured," but he saw that -something about the bottle was operating terrifically on the rebel's -mind and took advantage of it. He was in too much of a hurry to inquire -critically what it was, but said: "Well, I won't do nothin' to you, so -long's you're good, but mind that you're mighty good, and do just as I -say, or I'll fix you. Git up, now, and take hold o' your pardner's feet, -and help me lift him on the litter. Then you take hold o' the front -handles. Monty, throw your gun-sling over your shoulder, and take hold -o' the rear handles. The two o' you carry this man back. Alf, throw your -gun-sling over your shoulder, put your arm under this man's, and help -him along. I'll help this man." - -They slowly made their way back toward the mill. As they came on the -crest of the last rise, they saw Shorty and the rest eagerly watching -for them. Shorty and the others ran forward and helped them bring the -men in. Shorty was particularly helpful to the man he had shot. He -almost carried him in to the mill, handling him as tenderly as if a -child, fixed a comfortable place for him on the floor with his own -blankets, and took the last grains of his coffee to make him a cup. This -done, he said: - -"I'm goin' out into the country to try and find some chickens to make -some broth for you men. Come along, Harry Joslyn, Gid Mackall and little -Pete." - -The country roundabout was discouragingly poor, and had been thoroughly -foraged over. But Shorty had a scent for cabins that were hidden away -from the common roads, and so escaped the visitations of ordinary -foragers. These were always miserably poor, but generally had a half- -dozen chickens running about, and a small store of cornmeal and -sidemeat. Ordinarily he would have passed one of these in scorn, because -to take any of their little store would starve the brood of unkempt -children that always abounded. But now, they were his hope. He had been -playing poker recently with his usual success, and as the bets were in -Confederate money, he had accumulated quite a wad of promises to "Pay in -gold, six months after the ratification of a Treaty of Peace between the -Confederate States and the United States." He would make some -mountaineer family supremely happy by giving them more money than they -had ever seen in their lives, in exchange for their stock of meal, -chickens and sidemeat. They would know where to get more, and so the -transaction would be a pleasant one all around. - -In the meanwhile, little Pete had visions of killing big game in the -mountain woods. The interminable forest suggested to him dreams of bear, -deer, buffalo, elk, and all the animals he had read about. It would be a -great thing to bring down an elk or a deer with his Springfield rifle, -and then be escorted back' to camp in triumph, with the other boys -carrying his game. He kept circling through the woods, in sight or -hearing of the others, expecting every minute to come upon some animal -that would fill his youthful sanguine hopes. - -Shorty at last found a poor little cabin such as he had been looking -for. It was hidden away in a little cove, and had never been visited by -the men of either army. It had the usual occupants—a weak-eyed, ague- -smitten man, who was so physically worthless that even the rebel -conscripters rejected him; a tall, gaunt woman, with a vicious -shrillness in her voice and a pipe in her mouth; a half score of mangy -yellow dogs, and an equal number of wild, long-haired, staring children. -They had a little "jag" of meal in a bag, a piece of sidemeat, and a -half-dozen chickens. The man had that morning shot an opossum, lean from -its Winter fasting. Shorty rejected this contemptuously. - -"I've bin mighty hungry in my time," said he, "but I never got quite so -low down as to eat anything with a tail like a rat. That'd turn my -stummick if I was famishin'." - -The man looked on Shorty's display of wealth with lack-luster eyes, but -his wife was fascinated, and quickly closed up a deal which conveyed to -Shorty all the food that they had. Just as Shorty had completed payment, -there came a shot from little Pete's rifle, and the next instant that -youth appeared at the edge of the cornpatch extending up hill from the -cabin, hatless, and yelling at the top of his voice. Shorty and the -others picked up their guns and took position behind the trees. - -"What's the matter, Pete?" asked Shorty, as the boy came up, breathless -from his long run. "Rebels out there?" - -"No," gasped Pete. "I was hunting out there for a deer, or a elk, or a -bear, when suddenly I come acrost the queerest kind of an animal. It -looked more like a hog than anything else, yet it wasn't a hog, for it -was thinner'n a cat. It had long white tusks, longer'n your hand, that -curled up from its mouth, little eyes that flashed fire, and great long -bristles on his back, that stood straight up. I shot at it and missed -it, and then it run straight at me. I made for the fence as hard as I -could, but it outrun me and was gaining on me every jump. Just as I clim -the fence it a-most ketched me, and made a nip not six inches from my -leg. I could hear him gnash them awful tusks o' his'n." - -"Humph," said the woman. "He's run acrost Stevenson's old boar, that -runs in them woods up thar, and is mouty savage this time o' year. He'd -take a laig offen a youngster quicker'n scat, if he ketched him. He done -well to run." - -Shorty and the others walked up to the fence and looked over. There was -the old razor-back King of the woods still raging around sniffing the -air of combat. - -"Why, it's only a hog, Pete!" said Shorty. - -"Only a hog!" murmured Pete with shamed heart. - -"That a hog?" echoed the others. "Well, that's the queerest looking hog -I ever saw." - -"It's a hog all the same," Shorty assured them. "A genuine razor-back -hog. But he's got the secession devil in him like the people, and you -want to be careful of him. He ain't fit to eat or I'd kill him. Let's -git back to the mill." - - - - - -CHAPTER XII. THE OPENING OF THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. - -WHAT an ineffably imposing spectacle of military power was presented to -the May sun, shining on the picturesque mountains and lovely valleys -around Chattanooga in the busy days of the Spring of 1864. - -Never before, in all his countless millions of journeys around the -globe, had he seen a human force of such tremendous aggressive power -concentrated on such a narrow space. He may have seen larger -armies—though not many—but he had never seen 100,000 such veterans as -those—originally of as fine raw material as ever gathered under a -banner, and trained to war by nearly three years of as arduous schooling -as men ever knew, which sifted out the weaklings, the incompetents, the -feeblewilled by the boisterous winnowing of bitter war. - -Thither had been gathered 35,000 of the Army of the Tennessee, who had -"Fort Donelson," "Shiloh," "Corinth," "Chickasaw Bayou," "Big Black," -"Jackson," and "Vicksburg" in letters of gold on their tattered -regimental banners, and whom Sherman proudly boasted were "the best -soldiers on earth." The courtly, idolized McPherson was their leader, -with such men as John A. Logan, T. E. G. Ransom, Frank P. Blair and P. -J. Osterhaus as lieutenants and subordinates. - -There was the Army of the Cumberland, 60,000 strong, from which all -dross had been burned by the fierce fires of Shiloh, Perryville, Stone -River and Chickamauga; and the campaigns across two States. "The noblest -Roman of them all," grand old "Pap" Thomas, was in command, with Howard, -Stanley, Newton, Wood, Palmer, Davis, Joe Hooker, Williams and Geary as -his principal lieutenants. - -And thither came—15,000 strong—all of the Army of the Ohio who could be -spared from garrisoning dearly-won Kentucky and East Tennessee. They -were men who had become inured to hunting their enemies down in mountain -fastnesses, and fighting them wherever they could be found. At their -head was Gen. J. M. Schofield, whom the Nation had come to know from his -administration of the troublous State of Missouri. Gens. Hovey, Hascall -and Cox were division commanders. - -With what an air of conscious power; of evident mastery of all that -might confront them; of calm, unflinching determination for the -conflict, those men moved and acted. They felt themselves part of a -mighty machine, that had its work before it, and would move with -resistless force to perform the appointed task. - -The men fell instinctively into their ranks in the companies. Without an -apparent effort the companies became regiments, the regiments quietly, -but with swift certainty, swung into their places in the brigade, and -the brigades massed up noiselessly into divisions and corps. - -And while the 100,000 veterans were drilling, organizing and manuvering -the railroad was straining every one of its iron and steel tendons to -bring in food and ammunition to supply the mighty host, and provide a -store from which it could draw when it went forth upon its great errand. -There were 35,000 horses to be fed, in addition to the 100,000 veterans, -and so the baled hay made heaps that rivalled in size the foothills of -the mountains. The limitless cornfields of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois -heaped up their golden harvests in other hillocks. Every mountain pass -was filled with interminable droves of slow-footed cattle, bringing -forward "army beef on the hoof." Boxes of ammunition and crackers, and -barrels of pork covered acres, and the railroad brought them in faster -than the hundreds of regimental teams could haul them out. - -There is no place in the world where the assembling of such a mighty -host could be seen to such an advantage as at Chattanooga. The mountains -that tower straight up into the clouds around the undulating plain on -which the town stands form a glorious natural amphitheater about an -arena for gigantic dramas. - -Naturally, the boys were big-eyed all the time with the sights that -filled the landscape near and far. Wherever they looked they were -astonished, and when in a march they came out on a crest that commanded -a wide view, they could not help halting, to drink all its wonders in. -Even the experienced Si and Shorty were as full of amazement as they, -and watched with fascination the spectacle of mighty preparation and -concentrated power. - -One day they got a pass and took the boys over to Lookout Mountain, for -a comprehensive survey of the whole scene. They trudged over the steep, -rough, winding road up the mountainside, and mads their way to Pulpit -Rock, on the "nose" of the mountain, which commands a view that is -hardly equalled in any country. From it they overlooked, as upon a map, -the wide plain around Chattanooga, teeming with soldiers and horses, and -piled-up war material, the towering line of Mission Ridge, the fort- -crowned hills, the endless square miles of white camps. - -"'The King sat on the rocky brow That looks o'er sea-born Salamis, - -And ships by thousands lay below, And men and Nations, all were his,' - -murmured Monty Scruggs. "I didn't suppose there was as many soldiers in -all the world before." - -"Si," said Shorty, "we thought old Rosecrans had heaped up the measure -when we started out from Nashville for Stone River. But that was only -the beginning for the gang he got together for the Tullyhomy campaign, -and 'taint more than onct to what old Sherman's goin' to begin business -with. I like it. I like to see any man start into a game with a full -hand and a big stack o' chips." - -"Well, from the talk that comes down from headquarters," said Si, "he -may need every man. We've never had enough men so far. The rebels have -always had more men than we did, and had the advantage of position. We -only won by main strength and bull-headedness, and Rosecrans's good -management. The rebels are straining every nerve to put up the fight o' -their lives, and they say old Jo Johnston's got nearly as many men over -there at Buzzard Roost as we have, and works that beat them we hustled -Bragg out of around Tullyhomy." - -"Well, let's have it as soon as possible," said Shorty. "I'm anxious to -see if we can't make another Mission Ridge over there at Buzzard Roost, -and run them fellers clean back to the Gulf of Mexico. But, great -Jehosephat, won't there be a Spring freshet when all them men and horses -and cattle break camp and start out over the country." - -"Goodness, what kin I do to keep from gitting lost in all that crowd?" -wailed Pete Skidmore, and the others looked as if his fears also struck -their hearts. - -"Just stick closs to the 200th Injianny and to me, and you won't git -lost, Pete," said Shorty. "The 200th Injianny's your home, and all real -nice boys stay around home." - -They made a little fire on the broad, flat surface of Pulpit Rock, -boiled some coffee, and ate their dinner there, that they might watch -the wonderful panorama without interruption. As the afternoon, advanced, -they saw an unusual commotion in the camps, and the sound of -enthusiastic cheering floated faintly up to their lofty perch. - -"I'll bet a big red apple orders to move has come," said Si. "Le's git -back to camp as quick as possible." - -They hurried down the mountain-side, and turned sharply to the right -into the road to Rossville Gap. - -"Yes, the orders to move has come," said Shorty. "See them big fires, -and the boys burnin' up things." - -In every camp the cheering men were making bonfires of the furnishings -of their Winter camps. Chairs, benches, tables, checker-boards, -cupboards, what-nots, etc., which had cost them considerable pains to -procure, and upon which they had lavished no little mechanical skill, -and sometimes artistic ornamentation, were ruthlessly thrown to feed the -joyful fires which blazed in each camp which had been lucky enough to -receive orders. The bands were playing, to emphasize and give utterance -to the rejoicings of the men. - -Shorty took little Pete by the hand to assist him in keeping up with the -rapid pace Si and he set up to get back to their own camp, and -participate in its demonstrations. - -"Of course, our rijimint's goin' too—goin' to have the advance," Si said -to Shorty, more than anything else to quiet a little disturbing fear -that would creep in. "They wouldn't leave it behind to guard one o' -these mud-piles they call forts, would they?" - -"They never have yit," answered Shorty, hopefully. "They say old Sherman -is as smart as they make 'em. He knows a good rijimint when he sees it, -and he's certain to want the 200th Injianny in the very foremost place. -Hustle along, boys." - -As they neared their camp they were delighted to find it in a similar -uproar to the others, with the men cheering, the brigade band playing, -and the men throwing everything they could find on the brightly blazing -bonfires. Ordinarily, such a long march as they had made to the top of -the Lookout Mountain and back again would have been very tiresome, but -in the enthusiasm of the occasion they forgot their fatigue—almost -forgot their hunger. - -"The orders are," the Orderly-Sergeant explained to Si, as they were -cooking supper, "that we're to move out tomorrow morning in light -marching order, three days' rations, 80 rounds of cartridges, only -blankets, no tents, but one wagon to a regiment, and one mule to a -company to carry ammunition and rations. O, we're stripped down to the -skin for a fight, I tell you. It's to be business from the first jump, -and we'll be right in it. We're to have the advance, and clear away the -rebel cavalry and pickets, to open up the road for the rest of the -division. You'll find your rations and ammunition in front of my tent. -Draw 'em and get everything ready, and go to sleep as soon as possible, -for we'll skin out of here at the first peep of day. There's a whole -passel of sassy rebel cavalry out in front, that's been entirely too -familiar and free, and we want to get a good whack at them before they -know what's up." - -And the busy Orderly passed on to superintend other preparations in the -company. - -After drawing and dividing the rations and cartridges. Si gave the boys -the necessary instruction about having their things ready so that they -could get them in the dark the next morning, and ordered them to -disregard the bonfires and mirth-making, and lie down to get all the -sleep they could, in preparation for the hard work of the next day. -Then, like the rest of the experienced men, who saw that the campaign -was at length really on, and this would be the last opportunity for an -indefinite while to write, he sat down to write short letters to his -mother and to Annabel. - -Influenced by the example, Shorty thought he ought to write to Maria. He -had received a second letter from her the day that he had gone out to -the mill, and its words had filled his soul with a gladness that passed -speech. The dispassionate reader would not have seen anything in it to -justify this. He would have found it very commonplace, and full of -errors of spelling and of grammar. But Shorty saw none of these. -Shakspere could have written nothing so divinely perfect to him. He had -not replied to it sooner, because he had been industriously thinking of -fitting things to say in reply. Now he must answer at once, or postpone -it indefinitely, and that meant so much longer in hearing again from -her. He got out his stationery, his gold pen, his wooden inkstand, -secured a piece of a cracker box for a desk, and seated himself far from -Si as possible among the men who were writing by the light of the pitch- -pine in the bonfires. Then he pulled from his breast the silk bandana, -and carefully developed from its folds the pocket-book and Maria's last -letter, which he spread out and re-read several times. - -Commonplace and formal as the letter was, there was an intangible -something in it that made him feel a little nearer the writer than ever -before. Therefor, he began his reply: - -Dere Miss Maria Klegg: - -"I talk mi pen in hand to inform you that our walkin'-papers has at last -come, and we start termorrer mornin' for Buzzard Roost to settle jest -whose to rool that roost. Our ideas and Mister Jo Johnston's differ on -that subjeck. When we git through with him hele no more, though he -probably won't be so purty as he is now." - -Little Pete's Awful Rebels. 149 - -He stopped to rest after this prodigious literary effort, and wipe the -beaded sweat from his brow. He saw little Pete Skidmore looking at him -with troubled face. - -"What're you doin' up, Pete? Lay down and go to sleep." - -"Say, Corpril, the Orderly said we wuz goin' to fight a whole passel of -rebel cavalry, didn't he?" - -"Um-hum!" assented Shorty, cudgeling his brain as to what he should next -write. - -"Them's them awful kind o' rebels, ain't they—the John Morgan kind—that -ride big horses that snort fire, and they have long swords, with which -they chop men's heads off?" - -"A lot o' yellin', gallopin' riff-raff," said Shorty, with the usual -contempt of an infantryman for cavalry. "Ain't worth the fodder their -bosses eat." - -"Ain't they terribler than any other kind o' rebels?" asked Pete, -anxiously. - -"Naah," said Shorty, sharply. "Go to sleep, Pete, and don't bother me -with no more questions. I'm writin' a letter." He proceeded with his -literary effort: - -"I was gladder than I kin tell you to git yore letter. You do write the -best letters of any woman in the whole world." - -He looked up, and there was little Pete's face before him. - -"What do you do when one o' them wild rebels comes cavorting and tearing -toward you, on a big hoss, with a long sword, and yelling like a -catamount?" he asked. - -"Paste him with a bullet and settle him," said Shorty testily, for he -wanted to go on with his letter. - -"But s'pose he comes on you when your gun ain't loaded, and his sword -is, or you've missed him, as I did that hog?" - -"Put on your bayonet and prod his hoss in the breast, and then give him -18 inches o' cold steel. That'll settle him. Go and lay down, Pete, I -tell you. Don't disturb me. Don't you see I'm writing?" - -Shorty went on with his letter. - -"How I wish you wood rite offener. Ide like to get a letter from you -every—" - -"Say, Corpril," broke in little Pete, "they say that them rebel cavalry -kin reach much further with their swords when they're up on a hoss than -you kin with your gun and bayonit, especially when you're a little -feller like me, and they're quicker'n wildcats, and there's just -millions of 'em, and—" - -"Who says?" said Shorty savagely. "You little open-mouthed squab, are -you lettin' them lyin', gassin, galoots back there fill you up with -roorbacks about them triflin', howlin', gallopin', rebel cavalry? Go -back there, and tell 'em that if I ketch another man breathin' a word to -you about the rebel cavalry I'll come and mash his head as flat as a -pancake. Don't you be scared about rebel cavalry. You're in much more -danger o' bein' struck by lightnin' than of bein' hit by a rebel on -hossback. Go off and go to sleep, now, and don't ask me no more -questions." - -"Can't I ask you just one?" pleaded Pete. - -"Yes, just one." - -"If we form a holler square agin cavalry will I be in the holler, or up -on the banks?" - -For the first time in his life, Shorty restrained the merciless jeer -that would come to his lips at any exhibition of weakness by those -around him. The thought of Maria softened him and made him more -sympathetic. He had promised her to be a second father to little Pete. -He saw that the poor boy was being frightened as he had never been -before by the malicious fun of the veterans in pouring into his ears -stories of the awful character of the rebel cavalry. Shorty sucked the -ink off his pen, put his hand soothingly on Pete, and said in a -paternally comforting way: - -"My boy, don't let them blowhards back there stuff you with sich -nonsense about the rebel cavalry. They won't git near enough you to hit -you with a sword half a mile long. They're like yaller dogs—their bark's -the wust thing about 'em. I'll look out for you. You'll stay right by -me, all the time, and you won't git hurt. You go back there to my -blankits and crawl into 'em and go to sleep. I'll be there as soon's I -finish this letter, Forgit all about the rebel cavalry, and go to sleep. -Ter-morrer you'll see every mother's son o' them rebels breakin' their -hoss' necks to git out o' range o' our Springfields." - -Then Shorty finished his letter: - -"Ime doin' my best to be a second father to little Pete. Heze as good a -little soul as ever lived, but when I talk another boy to raise it'll be -sumwhair else than in the army. - -"Yores, till deth." - -Just then the silver-voiced bugles in hundreds of camps on mountain- -sides, in glens, in the valleys, and on the plains began ringing out -sweetly mournful "Taps," and the echoes reverberated from the towering -palisades of Lookout to the rocky cliffs of the Pigeon Mountains. - -It was the last general "Taps" that mighty army would hear for 100 days -of stormy battling. - -The cheering ceased, the bonfires burned out. Shorty put his letter in -an envelope, directed it, and added it to the heap at the Chaplain's -tent. - -Then he went back and arranged his things so that he could lay his hands -unfailingly on them in the darkness of the morning, straightened little -Pete out so that he would lie easier, and crawled in beside him. - - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. THE FIRST DAY OF THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. - -AS usual, it seemed to the boys of the 200th Ind. that they had only -lain down when the bugle blew the reveille on the morning of May 3, -1864. - -The vigilant Orderly-Sergeant was at once on his feet, rousing the other -"non-coms" to get the men up. - -Si and Shorty rose promptly, and, experienced campaigners as they were, -were in a moment ready to march anywhere or do anything as long as their -rations and their cartridges held out. - -The supply of rations and cartridges were the only limitations Sherman's -veterans knew. Their courage, their willingness, their ability to go any -distance, fight and whip anything that breathed had no limitations. They -had the supremest confidence in themselves and their leaders, and no -more doubt of their final success than they had that the sun would rise -in the morning. - -Vigorous, self-reliant manhood never reached a higher plane than in the -rank and file of Sherman's army in the Spring of 1864. - -Si and Shorty had only partially undressed when they lay down. Their -shoes, hats and blouses were with their haversacks under their heads. -Instinctively, as their eyes opened, they reached for them and put them -on. - -That was a little trick only learned by hard service. - -The partners started in to rouse their boys. As soon as these were -fairly awake they became greatly excited. They had gone to sleep -bubbling over with the momentousness of the coming day, and now that day -had opened. - -There was a frantic scrambling for clothing, which it was impossible for -them to find in the pitchy darkness. There were exclamations of boyish -ill-temper at their failure. They thought the enemy were right upon -them, and every instant was vital. Monty Scruggs and Alf Russell could -not wait to dress, but rushed for their guns the first thing, and -buckled on their cartridge-boxes. - -"Gid Mackall, you've got on my shoes," screamed Harry Josyln. "I can't -find 'em nowhere, and I laid 'em right beside me. Take 'em off this -minute." - -"Hain't got your shoes on; can't find but one o' my own," snorted Gid in -reply. "You helter-skelter little fly-up-the-crick, you never know where -your own things are, and you lose everybody else's." - -"There's my shoe," exclaimed Harry, as he stumbled over one. - -"No; that's mine. Let it alone—give it to me," yelled Gid, and in an -instant the two were locked together in one of their usual fights. - -Si snatched them apart, cuffed them, and lighted a bit of candle, which -he kept for emergencies, to help them and the rest find their things. He -improved the occasion to lecture them as to the way they should do in -the future. - -After awakening him, Shorty had calmed down the excited little Pete, -found his shoes and other clothes for him, and seen that he put them on -properly. - -"Have everything all right at startin', Pete," said he, "and you'll be -all right for the day. You'll have plenty o' time. The rebels'll wait -for us." - -"Aint them them, right out there?" asked Pete nervously, pointing to the -banks of blackness out in front. - -"No; them's the same old cedar thickets they wuz when you went to bed. -They hain't changed a mite durin' the night, except that they've got -some dew on 'em. You must git over seein' bouggers wherever it's dark. -We'll build a fire and cook some breakfast, and git a good ready for -startin'. You must eat all you kin, for you'll need all you kin hold -before the day's over." - -Si was employed the same way in quieting down the rest, seeing that -every one was properly clothed and had all his equipments, and then he -gathered them around a little fire to boil their coffee and broil a -piece of fresh beef for their breakfast. He had the hardest work getting -them to pay attention to this, and eat all they could. They were so -wrought up over the idea that the battle would begin at any minute that -the sound of a distant bugle or any noise near would bring them up -standing, to the utter disregard of their meal. - -"Take it cool, boys, and eat all you kin," he admonished them. "It's -generally a long time between meals sich times as these, and the more -you eat now the longer you kin go without." - -But the boys could not calm themselves. - -"There, ain't that rebel cavalry galloping and yelling?" one exclaimed; -and they all sprang to their feet and stared into the darkness. - -"No," said Shorty, with as much scorn as he could express with his -mouthful of the last issue of soft bread that he was to get. "Set down. -That's only the Double Canister Battery goin' to water. Their Dutch -bugler can't speak good English, his bugle only come to this country at -the beginning o' the war, and he's got a bad cold in his head besides. -Nobody kin understand his calls but the battery boys, and they won't -have no other. They swear they've the best bugler in the army."' - -"Set down! Set down, I tell you," Si repeated sternly, "and swaller all -the grub you kin hold. That's your first business, and it's just as much -your business as it is to shoot when you're ordered to. You've got to -lay in enough now to run you all day. And all that you've got to listen -for is our own bugle soundin' 'Fall in!' Don't mind no other noise." - -They tried to obey, but an instant later all leaped to their feet, as a -volley of mule screechers mixed with human oaths and imprecations came -up from a neighboring ravine. - -"There! There's the rebels, sure enough," they ejaculated, dropping -their coffee and meat and rushing for their guns. - -"Come back and set down, and finish your breakfast," shouted Si. "That -ain't no rebels. That's only the usual family row over the breakfast -table between the mules and the teamsters." - -"Mules is kickin' because the teamsters don't wash their hands and put -on white aprons when they come to wait on 'em," suggested Shorty. - -The boys looked at him in amazement, that he should jest at such a -momentous time. - -"There's the 'assembly' now," said Si, as the first streak of dawn on -the mountain-top was greeted by the bugler at the 200th Ind.'s -Headquarters, filling the chill air with stirring notes. - -"Put on your things. Don't be in a hurry. Put on everything just right, -so's it won't fret or chafe you during the march. You'll save time by -takin' time now." - -He inspected the boys carefully as it grew lighter, showed them how to -adjust their blanket-rolls and canteens and heavy haversacks so as to -carry to the best advantage, examined their guns, and saw that each had -his full allowance of cartridges. - -"Here comes meat for the rebel cavalry," shouted one of the older -members of the company, as Si brought his squad up to take its place on -the left of Co. Q. - -"I wouldn't say much about rebel cavalry, if I was you, Wolf Greenleaf," -Si admonished the joker. "Who was it down in Kentucky that was afraid to -shoot at a rebel cavalryman, for fear it would make him mad, and he -might do something?" - -The laugh, that followed this old-time "grind" on one of the teasers of -new recruits silenced him, and encouraged the boys. - -As the light broadened, and revealed the familiar hills and woods, -unpeopled by masses of enemies, the shivery "2 o'clock-in-the-morning- -feeling" vanished from the boys' hearts, and was succeeded by eagerness -to see the redoubtable rebels, of whom so much had been said. - -The companies formed up into the regiment on the parade ground, the -Colonel mounted his horse, took his position on the right flank, and -gave the momentous order: - -"Attention, battalion—Right face—Forward—file left—March!" - -The first wave rolled forward in the mighty avalanche of men, which was -not to be stayed until, four months later, Sherman telegraphed North the -glad message: - -"Atlanta is ours, and fairly won." - -As they wound around and over the hills in front, they saw the -"reserves," the "grand guard," and finally the pickets with their -reserves drawn in, packed up ready for marching, and waiting for their -regiments to come up, when they would fall-in. - -"There's a h—l's mint of deviling, tormenting rebel cavalry out there -beyond the hills," they called out to the regiment. "Drop onto 'em, and -mash 'em. We'll be out there to help, if you need it." - -"The 200th Injianny don't need no help to mash all the rebel cavalry -this side o' the brimstone lakes," Si answered proudly. "Much obliged to -you, all the same." - -"Capt. McGillicuddy," commanded the Colonel, as they advanced beyond -where the picket-line had been, "deploy your company on both sides of -the road, and take the advance. Keep a couple hundred yards ahead of the -regiment." - -"Hooray," said Si, "we're in the lead again, and we'll keep it till the -end o' the chapter. Co. Q, to the front and center." - -They advanced noiselessly over the crest of a ridge, and the squad, -which gained a little on the rest, saw a rebel videt sitting on his -horse in the road some 200 or 300 yards away. The guns of the nervous -boys were up instantly, but Si restrained them with a motion of his -hand. - -"What's the matter with him?" he asked Shorty, indicating the rebel. - -"Him and his hors's wore out and asleep," answered Shorty, after a -minute's study. "Look at his head and his hoss's." - -"Kin we sneak up on him and git him?" asked Si. - -"Scarcely," answered Shorty. "Look over there." - -A squad of rebels were riding swiftly up the road toward the videt. - -"Shan't I shoot him?" asked the nervous little Pete, lifting his gun to -his face. - -"No, no; give him a show for his life," answered Shorty, laying his hand -on Pete's gun. - -"It'd be murder to shoot him now. Gi' me your gun, Pete. Run down the -road there apiece, and hit him or his horse with a stone and wake him -up." - -The boys, to whom a rebel was a savage wolf, to be killed any way that -he could be caught, looked wonderingly at Si, who responded by a nod of -approval. - -"Won't he chop me with his sword?" asked Pete, still full of the terrors -of that weapon. - -"We'll look out for that. Go ahead, quick, Pete," said Si. - -Poor little Pete, looking as if he was being sent to lead a forlorn -hope, rushed frantically forward, picking up a stone as he ran, and -hurled it with a true aim squarely against the rebel's breast, who woke -with a start, clutched his carbine, and stared around, while little Pete -dashed into the brush to avoid his dreaded saber. - -"Look out for yourself, reb. We're a-coming," shouted Si. - -The rebel whirled his horse about, fired his carbine into the air, and -sped back to his friends, while the squad rushed forward and took -position behind trees. The rebels came plunging on. - -"Fire!" shouted Si. - -The guns of the squad crashed almost together. The bullets seemed to -strike near, but without taking effect on any one of the rebels, who -seemed to catch sight of the rest of Co. Q coming over the crest. They -whirled their horses around, and started back on a sharp trot, while the -boys were reloading. - -"Go ahead. Sergeant," shouted Capt. McGillicuddy, from the rear. "Follow -them up. We're right behind you. Push them back on their reserves." - -"All right, Cap. Back they go," shouted Si, leading forward his squad in -a heavy-footed run down the road. They soon came to an opening of -somewhat level ground, made by the clearing around a cabin. - -The rebel squad halted beyond the cornfields, turned about, and opened -fire. - -"Holy smoke, look there," gasped Monty Scruggs, as a company of rebel -cavalry came tearing over the hill in front, to the assistance of their -comrades. - -"Them ain't many for cavalry," said Shorty, as he and Si deployed the -boys behind fence-corners, and instructed them to shoot carefully and -low. - -"Sargint, see there, and there," shouted Alf Russell, as other companies -of rebels came galloping through over the crest, while the first -arrivals began throwing down the fences, preparatory to a charge. - -"Yes, there's about a rijimint," Si answered coolly. "We'll need the -most o' Co. Q to 'tend to them. Here they come." - -"Sergeant, what's all this disturbance you're kicking up in camp?" said -Capt. McGillicuddy playfully, as he deployed Co. Q. "Can't you take a -quiet walk out into the country, without stirring up the whole -neighborhood?" - -"They seem to've bin at home and expectin' us, Capt," grinned Si, as he -pointed to the augmenting swarm of horsemen. - -"There does seem to be a tolerably full house," answered the Captain -with a shrug. "Well, the more the merrier. Boys, shoot down those -fellows who're tearing down the fences. That'll stop any rush on us, and -we'll develop their force." - -"It's developing itself purty fast, seems to me. There comes another -rijimint," remarked Si. - -The firing grew pretty noisy. - -Si was delighted to see how naturally his boys took to their work. After -the first flurry of excitement at confronting the yelling, galloping -horde, they crouched down behind their fence-corners, and loaded and -fired as deliberately as the older men. - -"What sort of a breach of the peace is this you are committing, Capt. -McGillicuddy?" asked Col. McBiddle, coming up at the head of the 200th -Ind. "And do you want some accomplices?" - -"I believe if you'll give me another company I can make a rush across -there and scatter those fellows," answered the Captain. - -"All right. Take Co. A. Push them as far as you can, for the orders are -to develop their strength at once. I'll follow close behind and help you -develop, if you need me." - -An instant later the two companies rushed across the field, making a -bewildering transformation in the rebels' minds from charging to being -charged. The rebels were caught before they could complete their -formation. There was a brief tumult of rushes and shots and yells, and -they were pushed back through the woods, with some losses In killed and -wounded and stampeded horses. - -Si had led his squad straight across the field, against a group engaged -in pulling down the fence. They were caught without their arms, and two -were run down and captured. Palpitating with success, the boys rushed -over to where the regiment was gathering itself together at the edge of -the woods on the brow of the ridge. - -"Why don't they go ahead? What're they stoppin' for? The whole -rijimint's up," Si asked, with a premonition of something wrong. - -"Well, I should say there was something to stop for," answered Shorty, -as they arrived where they could see, and found the whole country in -front swarming with rebel cavalry as far as their eyes could reach. - -"Great Scott," muttered Si, with troubled face, for the sight was -appalling. "Is the whole Confederacy out there on hossback?" - -"O, my, do we have to fight all them?" whimpered little Pete, scared as -much by the look on Shorty's face as at the array. - -"Shut up, Pete," said Shorty petulantly, as a shell from a rebel battery -shrieked through the woods with a frightful noise. "Git behind this -stump here, and lay your gun across it. I'll stand beside you. Don't -shoot till you've a bead on a man. Keep quiet and listen to orders." - -A rebel brigade was rapidly preparing to charge. It stretched out far -beyond the flanks of the regiment. - -"Steady, men! Keep cool!" rang out the clear, calm voice of the Colonel. -"Don't fire till they come to that little run in the field, and then -blow out the center of that gang." - -The brigade swept forward with a terrific yell. Si walked behind his -squad, and saw that every muzzle was depressed to the proper level. - -The brigade came on grandly, until they reached the rivulet, and then a -scorching blast broke out from the muzzles of the 200th Ind., which made -them reel and halt. - -Yells of "Close up, Alabamians!" "This way, Tennesseeans!" "Form on your -colors, Georgians!" came from the rebels as the boys reloaded. Then all -sounds were drowned in the rattling musketry, as the rebels began a hot -fire from their saddles, in answer to the Union musketry. - -"Captain, they are moving out a brigade on either flank to take us in -the rear," said Col. McBiddle calmly to Capt. McGillicuddy. "We'll have -to fall back to the brigade. Pass the word along to retire slowly, -firing as we go. The brigade must be near. You had better move your -company over toward the right, to meet any attack that may come from -that direction. I'll send Co. A toward the other flank." - -It was a perilous movement to make in front of such overwhelming force. -But the smoke curtained the manuver and the rebels only discovered it by -the diminution of the fire in their front. Then they and the flanking -brigades came on with ringing yells, and it seemed that the regiment was -to be swept off the face of the earth. The 200th Ind. was not to be -scared by yells, however, and sent such a galling fire from front and -flanks, that the rebel advance lost its rushing impetus. The regiment -was reaching the edge of the woods. The clear fields would give the -rebel cavalry its chance. - -The whole command advanced, the moment the rebels began to break under -the fire, across the fields and through the woods to the crest where the -200th Ind. had first tried to stop the swarming rebel horsemen. From -there they could see the broad plain rapidly vacated by their enemies, -hurrying away from the pursuing shells. - -The Colonel's clear, penetrating tones rang above the tumult: - -"Attention, 200th Ind.! Every man for himself across the fields. Rally -on the fence beyond." - -Shorty, whose face had been scratched by a bullet, took little Pete by -the hand. "Now, run for it, my boy, as you never run before in your -life. Hold on to your gun." - -There was a wild rush, through a torrent of bullets, across the cleared -space, and as he jumped the fence, Si was rejoiced to see his squad all -following him, with Shorty dragging little Pete in the rear. - -They had scarcely struck the ground beyond, when it shook with the crash -of artillery on the knoll above, and six charges of double canister tore -wickedly into the surging mass of rebel cavalry. - -"The Double Canister Battery got up jest in the nick o' time," gasped -Shorty, as he shoved little Pete down behind a big log. "It generally -does, though." - -"I'm glad the brigade wasn't a mile off," puffed Si, listening with -satisfaction to the long line of rifles singing tenor to the heavy bass -of the cannon. - -"Capt. McGillicuddy," said the Colonel, "I ordered you to develop the -enemy's strength. Has it occurred to you that you somewhat overdid the -thing?" - - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. THE EVENING AFTER THE BATTLE. - -"GREAT Jehosephat, how hungry I am," suddenly ejaculated Shorty, -stopping his cheering, as the thunder of the guns died away into an -occasional shot after the rebels galloping back to the distant woods on -the ridge from which they had emerged. - -"I must make some coffee. Wonder where I put my matches?" - -"Here, Pete," continued Shorty, as he broke off some splinters from the -rails and started a little fire, "take my canteen and Si's and yours, -and run down there and find a spring, and fill 'em, before the others -make a rush. Be spry about it, for there'll be a rush there in a minute, -and you won't have no chance." - -The excited boy had to be spoken to a second time before he would come -back to earth, much less comprehend the want of water and food. Like the -rest of his companions, the terrific drama which had just been enacted -had wrought him to a delirium, in which he could think of nothing but a -world full of bellowing cannon, and a nightmare of careering, plunging -horses, with savagely-yelling riders. - -They could not realize that the battlecloud had rolled away just as -suddenly as it had burst upon them, and they stood there tightly -grasping their reloaded guns, and staring fixedly into the distance for -the next horrid development. - -"I think you'll find a spring right over there where you see that bunch -o' young willers, Pete," said Si, handing him his canteen. "Break for -it, before anybody else gets there and muddies the water." - -But Pete still stood rigid and unhearing, clutching his gun with a -desperate grip, and glaring with bulging, unmoving eyes across the -plain. - -"Come, wake up, Pete," said Shorty, giving him a sharp shake. "Do as I -tell you, and on the jump. The fight's over." - -"The fight's over?" stammered the boy. "Ain't they coming back again?" - -"Not on their butternut-dyed lives they ain't," said Shorty scornfully. -"They've got their dirty hides as full o' lickin' as they kin hold for -one day. They'll set around for a while, and rub their hurts, and try to -think out jest how it all happened." - -"Skip out, Pete," Si reminded the boy. "The rest o' you boys stack your -guns and foller Pete." - -"Hadn't we batter take our guns along?" suggested Monty, holding on to -his with grim fearfulness. - -"No. Stack 'em; stack 'em, I tell you," said Si impatiently. "And be -quick about it. They'll all git ahead o' you. Don't you see the rest -stackin' arms?" - -The boys obeyed as if dazed, and started to follow little Pete's lead -toward the clump of willows. - -The boy, full of the old nick, found an Orderly's horse nipping the -grass close by the path to the spring and, boy like, jumped on its back. -The clatter of the canteens frightened the horse, and he broke into a -dead run. - -Little Pete's Horse Bolts. 169 - -"Do ye s'pose the fight's really over?" whispered Pete to Alf Russell, -who was just behind him. "Don't you think the rebels just let go to get -a fresh hold?" - -"Seems so to me," answered Alf. "Seems to me there was just millions of -'em, and we only got away with a little passel, in spite of all that -shootin'. Why, when we come out on the ridge the valley down there -seemed fuller of 'em than it was at first." - -"We oughtn't to get too far away from our guns," said Monty Scruggs. -"Them woods right over there may be full o' rebels watching to jump us -when we get far enough away." - -"I don't like the looks of that hill to the left," said Gid Mackall, -nervously. "An awful lot o' them went behind it, and I didn't see any -come out." - -"There, them bushes over there are shaking—they're coming out again," -said Harry Joslyn, turning to run back for his gun. - -"No, not there," nervously interjected Humphrey's, turning with him; -"ain't there something stirring down there by the crick?" - -"No, no," said Sandy Baker, desperately. "It's just that blame fool -Pete. Come on! Come on! We've got to. We were ordered to. Le's make a -rush for it, like the men in the Indian stories done when they was sent -for water." - -They acted on the suggestion with such vim that when Pete's horse -tripped at the edge of the little run, and sent Pete over its head with -a splash into the mud and water, the rest tumbled and piled on top of -him. - -The men on the hill, who had noticed it, set up a yell of laughter, -which scared the boys worse than ever, for they thought it meant the -rebels were on them again. - -"Now, what new conniption's struck them dumbed little colts?" said Si, -irritably, as he strode down to them, pulled them out, and set them on -their feet, with a shaking and some strong words. - -"Is the rebels coming again?" gasped Pete, rubbing the mud and water out -of his eyes. - -"No, you little fool," said Si. "The rebels ain't comin'. They're goin' -as fast as their horses kin carry 'em. They've got through comin' for -today. - -"There ain't one of 'em within cannon-shot, and won't be till we go out -and hunt 'em up again. You've come near spilin' the spring with your -tormented foolishness. What on earth possessed you to climb that boss? -You need half killin', you do. Go up higher there and fill your canteens -from where the water's clear. Be slow and careful, and don't rile the -water. Say, I see some nice sassafras over there. I always drink -sassafras tea this time o' year. It cleans the blood. I'm goin' over and -see if I can't git a good root while you're fillin' your canteens." - -Si walked out some distance in front of them, pulling as he walked some -of the tender, fragrant, spicy young leaves of the sassafras, and -chewing them with gusto. Arriving at the top of a rise he selected a -young shrub, pulled it up, carefully loosed its root from the mulchy -soil, and cut it off with his knife. His careless deliberation calmed -the overwrought nerves of the boys, and when he returned they had their -canteens filled, and walked back composedly to the fires, when they -suddenly remembered that they were as hungry as Si and Shorty, and fell -to work cooking their suppers. - -"Is that the way with the rebel cavalry?" asked Monty Scruggs, with his -mouthful of crackers and meat. "Do they come like a hurricane, and -disappear again like an April shower?" - -"That's about it," answered Shorty disdainfully. "That's the way with -all cavalry, dad-burn 'em. They're like a passel o' fice pups. They're -all yelp and bark, and howl and showin' o' teeth. They're jest goin' to -tear you to pieces. But when you pick up a stone or a club, or git ready -to give 'em a good kick they're gone, the devil knows where. They're -only an aggravation. You never kin do nothin' with 'em, and they kin do -nothin' with you. I never kin understand why God Almighty wasted his -time in makin' cavalry of any kind, Yank or rebel. All our own cavalry's -good for is to steal whisky and chickens from honest soldiers of the -infantry. The infantry's the only thing. It's like the big dog that -comes up without any special remarks, and sets his teeth in the other -dog. The thing only ends when one dog or the other is badly whipped and -somethin's bin accomplished." - -"Will we have to fight them cavalry again tomorrow jest the same way?" -asked little Pete, still somewhat nervously. - -"Lord only knows," answered Shorty indifferently, feeling around for his -pipe. "A feller never knows when he's goin' to have to fight rebel -cavalry any more'n he knows when he's goin' to have the toothache. The -thing just happens, and that's all there is of it." - -Si and Shorty, having finished their suppers, lighted their pipes, and -strolled up through the regiment to talk over with the others the events -of the day and the probabilities of the morrow. - -Left alone, the tongues of the excited boys became loosened, and ran -like the vibrations of a cicada's rattle. - -"Wasn't it just wonderful?" said Monty Scruggs. "It looked as if a -million circuses had suddenly let out over there. - -"'The Assyrians came down like a wolf on the fold, And their cohorts -were gleaming with purple and gold.' - -"Only there didn't seem much purple and gold about them. Seemed mostly -brown rags and slouch hats and long swords. Gracious, did you ever see -anything as long and wicked as them swords! Seemed that every one was -pointing directly at me, and they'd reach me the very next jump." - -"Of course, you thought they were all looking at you," said Alf Russell. -"That's your idea, always, wherever you are. You think you're spouting -on the platform, and the center of attraction. But I knew that they were -all looking at me, as folks generally do." - -"More self-conceit," sneered Harry Joslyn. "Just because you're so good -looking, Alf. I knew that they weren't bothering about any boy orator, -who does most of his shooting with his mouth, nor any young pill- -peddler, who sings in the choir, and goes home with the prettiest girl. -They were making a dead set on the best shot in the crowd, the young -feller who'd come into the war for business, and told his folks at home -before he started that he was going to shoot Jeff Davis with his own -hand before he got back. That was me, I saw the Colonel of one o' the -regiments point his sword straight at me as they came across the run, -and tell his men to be sure and get me of all others." - -"Why didn't you shoot him, if you're such a deadshot?" asked Gid -Mackall. - -"Why, I was just loading my gun, when I saw him, and as I went to put on -the cap you were shaking so that it jarred the cap out of my hand, and -before I could get another, the smoke became so thick I couldn't see -anything." - -"I shaking?" said Gib, with deep anger. "Now, Harry Josyn—" - -"Come, boys; don't have a scrap, now," pleaded the serious-minded Alf. -"Just think how many dead men are lying around. It looks like raising a -disturbance at a funeral." - -"That's so," said Jake Humphreys. "I don't think any of us is in shape -to throw up anything to another about shaking. I own up that I was never -so scared in all my life, and I feel now as if I ought to get down on my -knees before everybody, and thank God Almighty that my life was spared. -I ain't ashamed to say so." - -"Bully for you, Jake," said Monty Scruggs, heartily. "We all feel that -way, but hain't the nerve to say so. I wish the Chaplain would come -around and open a meeting of thanksgiving and prayer." - -"I tell you what's the next best thing," suggested Jake Humphreys. "Let -Alf Russell sing one of those good old hymns they used to sing in the -meetings back at home." - -"Home!" How many thousands of miles away—how many years of time -away—seemed to those flushed, overwrought boys, bivouacking on the -deadstrewn battlefield, the pleasant cornfields, the blooming orchards, -the drowsy hum of bees, the dear homes, sheltering fathers, mothers, and -sisters; the plain white churches, with their faithful, grayhaired -pastors, of the fertile plains of Indiana. - -Alf Russell lifted up his clear, far-reaching boyish tenor, that they -had heard a thousand times at devout gatherings, at joyful weddings, at -sorrowing funerals, in that grandest and sweetest of hymns: - -"All hail the power of Jesus' name; Let angels prostrate fall. Bring -forth the royal-diadem. And crown Him Lord of All." - -As far as his voice could reach, the rough soldiers, officers and men, -stopped to listen to him—listened to him with emotions far too deep for -the cheers that usually fly to the lips of soldiers at anything that -stirs them. The higher officers quit talking of the plans of the morrow; -the minor ones stopped, pen in hand, over their reports and -requisitions; the busy Surgeons stayed their keen knives; the fussy -Orderly-Sergeants quit bothering about rations and details; the men -paused, looked up from their cards and cooking until the hymn was sung -through. - -The voice was so pure, so fresh, so redolent of all that had graced and -sweetened their far-off past, that it brought to each swarming emotions -for which there was no tongue. - -"Bully for you, Alf; you're a sweet singer in Israel," said Si, brushing -away a suspicion of a tear. "Spread out your blankets, boys, and lay -down. Git all the sleep you kin, for there's lots o' work for us -tomorrow. There goes tattoo!" - - - - - -CHAPTER XV THE FIGHTING AROUND BUZZARD ROOST AND CAPTURE OF THE REBEL -STRONGHOLD. - -FOR the next few days there was a puzzling maze of movements, which must -have completely mystified the rebel Generals—as was intended—for it -certainly passed the comprehension of our own keen-eyed and shrewdly- -guessing rank-and-file and lower oflficers. - -Regiments, brigades and divisions marched hither-and-yon, wound around -and over the hills and mountains, started out at a great rate in the -morning, marched some distance, halted apparently halfway, and then -perhaps went back. Skirmishing, that sometimes rose to the proportions -of a real battle, broke out at unexpected times and places, and as -unexpectedly ended. Batteries galloped into position, without much -apparent warning or reason, viciously shelled some distant point, and -then, as the infantry were girding up themselves for something real to -follow all the noise, stopped as abruptly as they had begun, and nothing -followed. - -This went on so long, and apparently so purposelessly, that even the -constant Si and Shorty were shaken a little by it. - -"It can't be," said Shorty to Si, one evening after they had gone into -bivouac, and the two had drawn away from the boys a little, to talk over -things by themselves, "that old Sherman's got one o' his crazy fits -again, can it? They say that sometimes he gits crazier 'n a March hare, -and nobody kin tell just when the fit'll come on him. I never did see so -much criss cross work as we've bin doin' for the last few days. I can't -make head nor tail of it, and can't find anybody else that kin." - -"I can't make it out no more than you kin," assented Si. "And I've -thought o' that crazy idee, too. You know them boys over there in -Rousseau's old division was under Sherman once before, when he was in -command at Louisville, and they say that he got crazier'n a locoed -steer—actually looney, so's they had to relieve him and send him back -home to git cured. They'd be really scared about things, but their -officers heard old Pap Thomas say that things wuz goin' along all right, -and that satisfied 'em. I ain't goin' to worry so long's old Thomas is -in command o' the Army o' the Cumberland, and we're in it. He'll take -care that things come out straight." - -"You bet," heartily agreed Shorty. "The Army o' the Cumberland'll be all -right as long as he's on deck, and he kin take care o' the other armies, -too, if they git into trouble. I struck some o' the Army o' the -Tennessee when I went back with them prisoners today, and got talkin' -with 'em. I asked 'em if Sherman wasn't subject to crazy fits, and they -said yes, he had 'em, but when he did he made the rebels a mighty sight -crazier'n he was. They went on to say that we'd git used to Sherman -after awhile, and he'd show us some kinks in soljerin' that we never -dreamed of." - -"Sich plaguey conceit," muttered Si. - -"I should say so. But I never seen anybody so stuck on theirselves as -them Army o' the Tennessee fellers. Just because they took Vicksburg—" - -"With all the navy to help 'em," interjected Si. - -"Yes, with more gunboats than we have army wagons. They think they know -more about soljerin than anybody else in the world, and ackchelly want -to give us p'ints as to how to git away with the rebels." - -"The idee," said Si scornfully. "Talkin' that way to the best soljers in -the world—the Army o' the Cumberland. I hate conceit, above all things. -I'm glad I hain't none of it in me. 'Tain't that we say it, but -everybody knows it that the Army o' the Cumberland's the best army in -the world, and the 200th Injianny—" - -"I told 'em that the Army o' the Cumberland was the best army, because -it had the 200th Injianny in it, and, would you believe me, they said -they'd never even heard o' the 200th Injianny?" - -"Sich ignorance," groaned Si. "Can't they read? Don't they git the -papers?" - -"There'd bin a fight right, there, if it hadn't bin for the officers. I -wanted awfully to take a fall out of a big Sergeant who said that Thomas -might be a good enough man for Chairman of a convention o' farmers, but -when he went to war he wanted to have sich leaders as Sherman, -McPherson, and Logan, and Osterhaus. But he'll keep. We agreed to see -each other later, when we'll have a private discussion, and if he has -any head left on him he'll freely acknowledge that nobody in the Army o' -the Tennessee is fit to be named in the same day with Pap Thomas." - -"Better turn him over to me, Shorty," said Si, meditatively. "I think -I'm in better shape for an argument just now than you are. You've bin -doing a good deal in the last few days, and I'm afraid you're a little -run down." - -"No; he's my meat. I found him, and I'll take care o' him. But there's -just one thing that reconciles me to this business. In spite o' all this -sashayin' and monkeying we seem to be continually edgin' up closter to -them big cliffs where the rebels are, and something's got to bust purty -soon. It's jist like it was at Tullyhomy, but old Rosecrans ain't -runnin' things now." - -"But Thomas is in the center, as he was then, and we're with him," said -Si hopefully. "There's tattoo, Le's crawl in." - -The other boys had been affected according to their various temperaments -by the intricate and bewildering events of the past few days. The first -day or two they were all on the tenter-hooks of expectation and anxiety. -Every bugle-call seemed to be a notice for them to rush into the great -battle. Every time they saw a regiment moving, they expected to follow -and fall into line with it. They wondered why they were not sent in -after every skirmish-line they saw advancing. When a rebel battery -opened out in the distance they girded themselves in expectation of an -order to charge it. But Si and Shorty kept admonishing them that it -would be time enough for them to get excited when the 200th Ind. was -called on by name for something; that they were not expected to fight -the whole campaign, but only to do a limited part of it, and they had -better take things easy, and save themselves for their share when it -should come to them. - -It was astonishing how soon they recognized this, and settled down to -more or less indifference to things that did not directly concern their -own regiment. They were just at the age to be imitative, and the example -of the veterans around them had a strongly-repressive effect. - -So, after the second or third day of the turmoil of the opening -campaign, they ceased to bother themselves openly, at least, as to why -their regiment did not move when others did, as to why they did not go -to the help of others that were fighting, and as to when they were to be -summoned to make a desperate assault upon the frowning palisades of rock -which were literally alive with rebels and belching cannon. - -When the regiment was lying still they occupied and amused themselves, -as did the others, according to their several bents. The medical-minded -Alf Russell watched the movements and deportment of the Surgeons at -every opportunity, and was especially interested in everything that he -could catch a glimpse of, from feeling a man's pulse to extracting a -bullet. The lathy Gid Mackall, whose appetite did not need the -sharpening it got from the free mountain air, put in much of his time -cooking, all possible variations of his rations with anything else that -he could get hold of, and devouring the product with eagerness. In spite -of Si's strict prohibition against card-playing, the sleepy headed Jim -Humphreys was rapidly, but secretly, mastering all the tricks and -mysteries of camp gambling, and becoming an object of anxiety to the -older gamesters whenever he pitted himself against them. Sandy Baker, -whose tastes ran to mechanics, "tinkered" constantly with his rifle and -equipments, studying the nature and inner workings of every part, and -considering possible improvements. Sprightly Harry Joslyn was fascinated -with the details of soldiering, and devoted himself to becoming perfect -in the manual of arms and the facings. Little Pete Skidmore was keenly -alive to all that was going on, and wanted to know everything. When he -could trust himself not to get lost from his regiment, he would scurry -over to the nearest one, to find out who they were, where they had come -from, what they had been doing, and whither they were likely to go. But -Monty Scruggs was constantly in the public eye, as he loved to be. His -passion for declamation pleased officers and men. He really declaimed -very well, and it was a reminder to them of home and the long-ago school -days to hear him "spout" the oldtime Friday afternoon favorites. - -Therefore he was always called upon whenever there was nothing else to -engage the men's attention, and his self-confidence and vanity grew -rapidly upon the liberal applause bestowed on him. He was a capital -mimic, too, and daring as well, and it was not long before he began to -"take off" those around him, which his comrades enjoyed even more than -his declamations. - -The llth of May, 1864, saw all the clouds of battle which had been -whirling for days in such apparently diverse directions, gathering about -the deep gorge in Rocky Face Ridge through which the railroad passed. -"Buzzard Roost," as this was named, was the impregnable citadel behind -which the rebel army had taken refuge after its rout at Mission Ridge -the previous November, and the rebel engineers had since exhausted every -effort to make it still more unassailable. The lofty mountain rose -precipitously for hundreds of feet on either side the narrow gorge, and -the last hundred feet was a sheer wall of perpendicular rock. The creek -which ran through the gorge had been dammed, so that its waters formed a -broad, deep moat before the mouth of the gorge. The top of the ridge -swarmed with men, and to the rear of the gorge guns were massed in -emplacements to sweep every foot of the passage. - -It seemed madness to even think of forcing such a pass. A thousand men -in the shelters of that fastness could beat back myriads, and it was -known that Joe Johnston had at least 50,000 behind the Ridge. Yet -Sherman was converging great rivers of men from the north, the northwest -and west down upon that narrow gap, as if he meant to move the eternal -rocks by a freshet of human force. - -The rebels thrown out in advance of the gorge, on outlying hills, rocks -and cliffs, were swept backward and into the gap by the resistless wave -of blue rolling forward, fiery and thundering, gathering force and -vehemence as it converged into a shortening semi-circle about the rugged -stronghold. - -The 200th Ind. moved forward and took its place in the line on a hill -commanding a view of the entrance to the gorge, and there waited its -orders for the general advance, which seemed imminent any instant. - -For miles to the right and left the woods were crackling with musketry, -interspersed with the booming of fieldpieces. - -The regiment had stacked arms and broken ranks. - -For an hour or two the men had studied with intense eagerness the -bristling fortifications of the gap and the swarming foemen at the foot -of and on the summit of the high walls of rock. They had listened -anxiously to the firing to the right and left, and tried to make out -what success their comrades on other parts of the long crescent were -having. They had watched the faces of the officers to read there how the -battle was going. - -But one after another found this tiresome after awhile and set himself -to his usual camp employments and diversions. Some got out needles and -thread, and began repairing their clothes. Some gathered in groups and -smoked and talked. Many produced the eternal cards, folded up a blanket -for a table, and resumed their endless sevenup and euchre or poker for -buttons and grains of corn. Jim Humphreys found his way into one of -these games, which was played behind a clump of bushes, and the buttons -represented dimes. He was accumulating fractional currency. Gid Mackall -embraced the opportunity to cook for himself a savory stew with some -onions distributed by the Sanitary Commission. Sandy Baker went over his -gun, saw that every screw was properly tight, and dropped the tiniest -amount of oil on the trigger and the hammer, to ease their working. Pete -Skidmore wandered down to the flank of the next regiment to find out if -anything new had occurred. Harry Joslyn got himself into the exact -"position of a soldier," with his heels together, his toes pointed at an -angle of 45 degrees, and went through the manual of the piece endlessly. -Si and the Orderly-Sergeant communed together about the rations for the -company, and the various troubles there was always on the Orderly's mind -about the company's management. Shorty got off by himself, produced from -his breast his mementoes of Maria, and read over her last letter for the -thousandth time, though he knew every word in it. But he seemed to get a -new and deeper meaning every time he read it. - -Groups of officers would come up to a little rise in front, study the -distant ridge with their glasses for awhile, and then ride away. - -A couple of natty young Aids followed their superiors' example, rode up, -dismounted, and studied the enemy's position with great dignity and -earnestness, that it might have full effect upon the brigade behind -them. - -Monty Scruggs saw his opportunity. He bound some tin cans together to -represent field glasses, mounted a stump, and began intently studying -Buzzard Roost. - -This attracted the attention of the others. - -"What do you see, Monty?" they shouted. - -"See?" answered he. "Just lots and gobs. I see old Joe Johnston over -there, with Pat Cleburne, and Hood and Bragg, and Joe Wheeler. They're -all together, and pulling off their coats, and rolling up their sleeves, -and shaking their fists at the 200th Ind., and daring it to come on." - -Capture of Rebel Stronghold. 185 - -"Tell 'em not to sweat. Just hold their horses. We'll be over -presently," shouted the others, with yells of laughter. "What else do -you see?" - -The young Aids turned around and glanced angrily at Monty and the -laughing crowd. - -"I see old Jeff Davis there, with his Cabinet of traitors. He's writing -a fresh proclamation to his people, with his blind eye, and has got his -good one fixed on the 200th Ind., which he's telling Joe Johnston is -bound to give him more trouble than all the rest o' the army." - -"Good! Good!" yelled the rest. "So we will. Old Jeff's right for once. -What else do you see?" - -"Stop that, my man," said one of the Aids savagely. "You're disturbing -us." - -"Go ahead, and don't mind 'em," shouted the others. "They're only Second -Lieutenants any way. Tell us what you see." - -"I see way by Richmond, old Unconditional Surrender Grant's got Bob Lee -by the throat, and's just wipin' up the State of Virginny with him. -Lee's eyes is bulging out like gooseberries on a limb, and his tongue's -hanging down like a dog's on a hot day—" - -"Get down off that stump at once, and go back to your place," said the -Aid authoritatively. - -"Don't mind him. He's only a staff officer. He can't order you. Go -ahead," shouted the rest. - -"I see a couple o' young Second Lieutenants," started Monty, but the Aid -sprang at him, and in an instant there was a rush of the other boys to -defend him. Capt. McGillicuddy, who was usually conveniently deaf and -blind to the boys' skylarking, looked up from the paper he was reading, -hurried to the scene, quieted the disturbance, ordered Monty to get down -and go back, and spoke sharply to the Aid about paying any attention to -the men's harmless capers. - -The bugle blew "Attention," and everybody sprang to his place, and -waited eagerly for the next command. - -"Men," said the Colonel, in his gentle, sweet voice, which, however, was -distinctly audible to the farthest flank of the regiment, "we are -ordered to help our comrades by attacking the mountain over there. You -see what is before you, and that it will be terrible work, but I know -that you will do all that you can do for the honor of dear old Indiana." - -An enthusiastic cheer answered him. - -"Battalion—Take—Arms!" commanded the Colonel. "Right face—Forward—File -left—March!" - -The regiment filed down through the woods on the hillside, and as it -came into the opening at the bottom was greeted by a volley from a -battery on Rocky Face Ridge. The shells screamed viciously over the -heads of the men, and cut through the tops of the trees with a deafening -crash. - -"Wastin' good cast-iron on the landscape, as usual," laughed Shorty, to -encourage the boys. "I always wonder how the rebels pick out the fellers -they make cannoneers of. When they git hold of a feller who can't shoot -so's to hit anything less'n a Township set up edgewise, they put him in -the artillery." - -"Mebbe they'll come closter next time," said little Pete with a shiver, -as he trotted a little nearer Shorty. - -"Naah, they'll never come no closter," said Shorty, contemptuously. -"They couldn't hit even the side o' the mountain if it wasn't in their -way and no place else for the ball to go." - -Just then a shell screamed so close above Shorty that he involuntarily -ducked his head. - -"What makes you juke, if they can't hit nothing?" inquired little Pete, -and the rest of them had regained composure enough to laugh. - -"O," said Shorty composedly, "that feller wasn't shootin' at me. He was -shootin' at the 1st Oshkosh, which is a quarter of a mile behind. If -he'd hit me it'd 'a bin an accident, and I don't want no accidents to -happen just now." - -Approaching the cleared space in the center of the valley, the regiment -went into line in the brush and pushed through to the edge of the woods. -The moment that it appeared in the fringe of brushwood a sharp volley -came from the line of rebels in the brush along the opposite side of the -clearing. Evidently they were not expecting an advance at that moment, -for their firing was wild, and wounded but a few men. - -"Hold your fire till we are across," shouted the Colonel. "Forward—Guide -center—Double-quick—March!" - -With a yell the regiment swept across the clearing into the brush -beyond. A furious, noisy scrambling ensued in the thickets. Neither side -could see 10 yards ahead, and the firing, though fierce and rapid, was -not very effective. Men shot at sounds, or motions of the bushes, and -the bullets, glancing on the limbs, whistled in all directions. But the -200th Ind. pressed furiously forward, and though the rebels resisted -stubbornly they were gradually pressed back up the hill. Occasionally -one was killed, many were wounded, and squads were caught in clumps of -brush and compelled to surrender. Si and Shorty kept their boys in hand, -on the left of Co. Q, restrained them from firing until they saw -something to shoot at, and saw that they did not advance until their -guns were loaded. They heard a crashing volley delivered on their right -front, and springing swiftly in that direction, came to a little break, -across which they saw a squad of 15 or 16 rebels under the command of a -Captain, with their guns still smoking, and peering into the woods to -see the result of their fire. Si rushed at the Captain, with leveled -gun, and ordered him to surrender. - -"Are you an officer?" said the startled Captain as soon as he could gain -words. "I'm a Captain. I'll not surrender to any one under my rank." - -"I'm Captain enough for you," answered Si, thrusting the muzzle of his -gun close to his face. "Surrender this minute, or off goes your head." - -The Captain dropped his sword, and his men yielded. - -The prisoners were conducted to the rear, and when Si returned with his -squad to the regiment he found it had forced its way to the foot of the -high wall of rock that rose straight up from the slope. - -The rebels on the crest, 100 feet above, had been trying to assist their -comrades below, by firing with their muskets, and occasionally sending a -shell, where they could get their howitzers sufficiently depressed. Now -they had bethought themselves to roll rocks and heavy stones off the -crest, which fell with a crash on the treetops below. - -The 200th Ind. was raging along the foot of the wall, trying to find a -cleft in it by which they could climb to the top and get at their foes. -Standing a few yards in the rear, under a gigantic white-oak, whose -thick branches promised protection from the crashing bowlders, the -Colonel was sending parties to explore every place that seemed hopeful, -and report to him. When Si came up with his squad he was directed to go -to the extreme left, and see what he could find. - -He did so, and came to a little open space made by the washings which -poured over the crest of the rock when the rain descended in torrents. -There was a cleft there, but it was 40 feet above them, and surrounded -by rebels, who yelled at the sight of his squad, and sent down a volley -of bowlders. Si and his squad promptly dodged these by getting behind -trunks of trees. They fired at the rebels on the crest, who as promptly -lay down and sheltered themselves. - -The firing and stone-throwing lasted an hour or more, and then seemed to -die down from sheer exhaustion. - -As the stones begun to come down more fitfully, and at longer intervals. -Shorty shouted to those on top: - -"Say, you fellers up there, ain't you gittin' tired o' that work? You -ain't hurtin' nobody with them dornicks. We kin dodge 'em easy, and -you're just strainin' yourselves for nothin'. Let up for awhile, till we -both rest and git a fresh hold. We'll amuse you if you will." - -"What'll you do?" asked one of the rebels, peering over the crest. - -"Lots o' things. I'll turn one o' my famous doubleback-action flip- -flaps, which people have come miles to see, when I was traveling with -Dan Rice. Or we'll sing you a song. We've here the World Renowned -Ballad-Singer of Bean Blossom Crick. Or we'll make you a speech. We have -here the Justly-Famous Boy Orator of Pogue's Run." - -Everything had become quite still all around during this dialog. - -"Give us a song," said the rebel, and his comrades' heads began showing -over the edge of the rock. - -"Now, no rock-throwing and no shootin' while he's singing'," said -Shorty. "Give the boy a chance to git back to his tree after he's done." - -"All right. We'll play fair. But no politics," came back from the rock. - -"Go out there, Alf, on the gravel, and sing to 'em," said Shorty. - -Alf Russell hesitated a moment, and then climbed up on the pile of -washings and after clearing his throat, sang "When This Cruel War is -Over" in his best style, and was applauded from the top of the rock and -below. - -"Now, give us your speech. But no politics," the rebels shouted. - -Monty Scruggs stepped up on the mound and recited "Bingen on the Rhine" -in his best school-exhibition style. The delight of the rebels was -boundless. - -"Hip-hip—Hooray! Good! Good!" they shouted. "Give us another." - -Monty scratched his head to think of something appropriate, and then -occurred to him Webster's great speech in defense of the Union, which -was then a favorite in the schools. - -"When my eyes shall be turned to behold for the last time the sun in -heaven, may I not see him shining on the broken and dishonored fragments -of a once glorious Union; on States dissevered, discordant, belligerent; -on a land rent with civil feuds, or drenched, it may be, with fraternal -blood. Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable." - -The rebels listened with growing impatience to the words, and as Monty -concluded with his best flourish they yelled angrily: - -"Heah, we told you no politics. Git back thar, now, quick, or we'll bust -your haid with this heah rock." - -Shorty and Si raised their guns to shoot the man with the bowlder, and -Monty skipped back to the shelter of his tree, saying with a grin: - -"I was bound to give 'em a little straight goods before I quit, and they -got it. Old Dan Webster's very words." - -"The orders is to stay right here for the night," said the Orderly- -Sergeant, coming up through the brush to Si, "and be ready for anything -that comes. I don't know what old Sherman means—whether he is going to -send over some balloons to lift us to the top of the rocks, or set us to -tunneling through. I suppose it ain't my business to know. I've got -enough to do running this company. But something's got to bust inside -the next 24 hours, and when it does there'll be the dumbedest smash this -country ever saw. Stay where you are till further orders, and make -yourselves as comfortable as possible." - -The rebels on the rocks having quieted down, the boys stowed themselves -around the roots of the trees, made little fires under the shelter of -the rocks, cooked their suppers, smoked their pipes, and finally rolled -themselves in their blankets and went to sleep. - -Little Pete "snugged" in with Shorty, but when that gentleman was -awakened by Si a little after daylight, Pete was gone. - -Shorty fumed around at this while he was cooking his breakfast, for he -wanted Pete to be there and eat heartily, in preparation for the arduous -struggles of the momentous day which was breaking for them. - -But little Pete continued to be absent. No one had seen him, no one had -heard his voice, no one know anything about him. Shorty became greatly -worried, and the others shared his feelings, and began beating up the -woods around in search of some place that he might have fallen into. - -With the daybreak the firing away to the left, where a lodgment had been -made on Rocky Face Ridge, beyond the gap, broke out afresh, and rolled -down toward the gap. The squad listened intently to it as it came -nearer, for they felt that it meant the beginning of the day's bloody -business. The crests above them remained silent. - -Suddenly they heard little Pete's voice calling: - -"Sergeant Klegg! Corporal Elliott!" - -They looked in every direction, but could see no Pete. - -"Sergeant Klegg! Corporal Elliott! Look up here. I'm up here on the -rocks." - -They turned their eyes to the crest, and there saw Pete waving his hat -to them. - -"Come up here," he called. "There ain't no rebels up here. They've all -gone off down into the valley." - -From their tense hearts the boys sent up a cheer, which drew all -attention to them. The news quickly spread along the line, and was -received with cheers. - -"Go down that way about 100 yards," Pete called down, "and you'll find a -tall pine blowed down agin the cliff. You kin climb that, and git up to -where its top lays right agin a bunch of bushes. Shorty rolled on my leg -this morning, and waked me up before daylight. I then thought I'd git up -and take a look, and see how things appeared before they got to -shooting. I found the pine tree, and dumb it mighty quiet, intending to -sneak up close to the rebels. But I couldn't find none. They was all -gone." - - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. THE 200TH IND. ASSAULTS THE REBEL WORKS AT DAYBREAK - -THERE were the same perplexing sounds of battle in many places and -directions when the 200th Ind. went into line as there had been around -Buzzard Roost. - -Joe Johnston was fiercely contesting every hilltop and narrow gorge to -gain time to adjust his army to the unexpected movement through Snake -Creek Gap, and save the stores he had accumulated behind the heavy -fortifications around Dalton. - -Though they had felt themselves completely worn out by the work with the -train, the prospect of a fight put new life into the 200th Ind., and -they leaned on their guns and listened to the crackling of musketry and -booming of artillery far away to their left, to their right, and -apparently in their rear. Sometimes the sounds would come so near that -the wave of battle would seem to be surely rolling down on them. Then -they would clutch their guns more firmly, and their hands instinctively -seek their cartridge-boxes. Then the firing would as inexplicably die -down and stop, when they would again sink on the ground with fatigue. - -So the late afternoon wore on. It grew very quiet all around. Even the -dull booming of the cannon far up the valley where Howard and Schofield -were advancing on the heavy works immediately in front of Dalton, died -down into sullen fitfulness. - -The silence of the woods and the mountains as night drew on became more -oppressive than the crashing sounds, the feverish movements, and the -strained expectancy of the day had been. - -The whip-poor-wills began to fill the evening air with their mournful -calls, which accentuated and intensified the weird loneliness of the -scene, where but a little while before there had been no thought but of -deadly hatred and bitter strife. - -"I never heard the whip-poor-wills whip so gloomily," remarked the -sentimental Alf Russell, after the regiment had stacked arms, and the -men were resting, exhausted and out of temper, on the ground. "Seems to -me it sounds altogether different from the way they do at home; got -something savage in it." - -"Probably they're yelling their satisfaction over the number of men -they've seen killed and wounded today," ventured Monty Scruggs. "Does -'em good to see men shooting at one another instead of birds." - -"Dumbed little brutes," grumbled Shorty, nursing his hurt foot, "if -they'd bin wrastlin' all day with a mule train they'd be too tired to go -yellin' around like that. I always did hate a whip-poor-will, anyway. -They hain't got sense enough to do anything but yell, jest like a pasel -o' rebel cavalry." - -"Great Scott! I wisht I knowed whether we're goin' to stay here -tonight," said Si, handling his blanket roll with a look of -anticipation. - -"No," said the Orderly, coming down from the right of the regiment. -"We're to move forward about a mile, and establish a line for the rest -of the brigade to form on. We're to go quietly, without noise or -commands, and then bivouac without fires. Get your guns and fall in -quietly." - -As ill-tempered as tired, the boys roused up from the ground, and began -taking their guns from the stacks. Harry Joslin snatched his out first, -and the stack, falling over, the bayonet points struck Gid Mackall's -face. The angry Gid responded with a blow landed on the side of Harry's -head. In an instant the two clinched, and the others, who were in no -better humor, began striking at one another in blind temper. Si and -Shorty snatched the two principals apart with a good deal of violence -and much show of their own tempers. - -"You long legged sand hill crane," said Si, shaking Gid. "Will you -always be kickin' up a rumpus? I'll break your neck if you don't act -better." - -"You senseless little bantam," said Shorty, with his grip on Harry's -throat; "will you always be raising a ruction? Will I have to wring your -neck to learn you to behave?" - -"Let him alone, Shorty," said Si irritably. "He ain't to blame. This -gangling fly-up the crick started it." And he gave Gid another shake. - -"You let him alone. Si," said Shorty crossly. "I know better. This whelp -started it, as he always does. I'll throw him down and tramp on him." - -"You won't do nothin' o' the kind. Shorty. Don't you contradict me. Let -him go, I tell you." - -"You take your hands off that boy, or I'll make you, Si Klegg," said -Shorty hotly. "I won't see you imposin' on somebody's that's smaller'n -you." - -The spectacle of the two partners quarreling startled them all. They -stopped and looked aghast. - -"Here, what's all this disorder here," said the Orderly, coming up, -impetuously, and as cross as any one. "Why don't you get into line as -ordered? Sergeant Klegg, you're always making trouble for me." - -"I ain't doin' nothing o' the kind. What's the sense o' your sayin' sich -a thing?" Si retorted. "You know it ain't true." - -"Si Klegg, be careful how you call me a liar," answered the Orderly. -"I'll—" - -"What in the world does all this mean?" said Capt. McGillicuddy angrily, -as he stepped back to them. "What are you wasting time squabbling before -the men for? Fall into your places at once, and don't let me hear -another word from any of you. Don't you see the regiment is moving?" - -"We'll finish this later," the Orderly whispered to Si, as he went to -his place on the right. - -"I'll settle with you, Shorty, when I have more time," Si remarked as he -took his place. - -"The sooner the better," grunted Shorty. "You can't run over me, if you -are a Sergeant." - -The wearied men went stumbling along the rough road for what seemed the -longest mile ever known. It had grown very dark. At last a form -separated itself from the bank of blackness on the left, and a voice -said in a penetrating whisper: - -"Is this the 200th Ind?" - -"Yes," answered the Colonel. - -"I'm Lieut. Snowden, of the General's staff," said the whisper. - -"Yes; I recognize your voice," answered the Colonel. - -"I was sent here," continued the Whisper, "to post you when you came up. -You will make this your right, and form out there to the left. Do it -without the slightest noise. There is a strong force of rebels out there -in front. They have a line of works with abatis in front, and a fort on -the hill there to the right, as you can see by looking up against the -sky. You will not allow any fires to be made or lights to be shown. The -other regiments will come up and form on your right and left, and you -will be ready to attack and carry the line immediately in front of you -the moment that it is light enough to see to move. The signal will be -given by the headquarters bugle." - -"Very good," replied the Colonel. "Tell the General that we'll be ready, -and he'll find us inside the rebel line five minutes after the bugle -sounds." - -"In the meanwhile," continue the Aid, "you will keep a sharp lookout. -You may be attacked, and if you see signs of evacuation you are to -attack, and the other regiments will support you. The General will come -up later and give you further instructions. Good night." - -The men nearest the Colonel heard plainly all that was said, and it was -soon known throughout the regiment. The men seemed to forget their -fatigue as they moved alertly but warily into line to the left, and -studied intently the sky-line of the rising ground in front. - -The whip-poor-wills were still calling, but at the flanks and rear of -the regiment. None of them called in front. - -"It's full o' rebels over there; that's the reason," said Si to himself, -as he noted this. "Yes, they're all at home, and goin' to shoot," he -added in a loud whisper. "Lay down, everybody." - -He was none too soon. The tramping through the bushes, and the various -noises that bodies of men will make when in motion, had reached the ears -of the alert rebels. A dazzling series of flashes ran along the sky- -line, and a flight of bullets sang wickedly over the heads of the 200th -Ind., striking in the bushes and trees far behind them. - -"Don't anybody yell! Don't anybody shoot!" called the Colonel in a loud -whisper, and it was repeated by the line oflficers. "It will reveal our -position. Lie down and keep perfectly quiet. They're overshooting us." - -The rebel battery in the fort waked up, and, more to show its good will -than anything else, began shelling the surrounding landscape. - -One of our batteries, a mile or so to the rear, which had not had an -opportunity to fire during the day, could not resist this challenge, and -began throwing shells at the fort with so fair an aim as to draw the -attention of the rebel battery to it. - -The lurid flashes of the muskets, cannon, and shells revealed a belt of -jagged abatis several rods wide covering the entire front of the fort -and breastworks. - -"Great Scott!" muttered Si to himself, for he was not on speaking terms -with Shorty, and would not alarm the boys; "there's a porcupine nest to -git through. How in the Nation are we ever goin' to do it?" - -"Unroll your blankets and lie down on them," came down the line from the -Colonel. "Lay your guns beside you. Don't attempt to stack them. You may -attract the attention of the rebels. Everybody keep his place, and be -ready to form and move at once." - -"Stop firing. What are you shooting at?" said a voice of authority in -the rebel works. "Who gave the order to fire?" - -"The men began it themselves," said a second voice. "They heard Yankees -moving over there, and commenced shooting at them." - -"How do you know there are any Yankees out there? I don't believe they -have advanced beyond the crest of the hill. I think they are all going -down toward Resaca. Haven't you any pickets out there?" - -"No. We only moved in here this afternoon, and did not know how long we -were going to stay. I was ordered to stay here till further orders, to -protect the road beyond." - -"Well, we haven't any ammunition to waste firing at uncertainties. -There's enough Yankees in sight all the time for all the bullets we -have, without wasting any on imaginary ones. It'll be time enough for -you to begin shooting when you see them coming to the edge of the abatis -there. Before they get through that you'll have time enough to shoot -away all the ammunition you have." - -"I'm going to see whether there are any Yankees there," said the second -voice in the rebel works. - -"Jim, you and Joe go down to the edge of the abatis and see what you can -see." - -The wearied boys had nearly all fallen asleep on their blankets. Even -the noisy artillery duel had not kept Jim Humphreys awake, and Monty -Scruggs and Alf Russell followed his example soon after the firing -ceased. Then Harry Joslyn and Gid Mackall, spreading their blankets -apart for the first time since they had been in the service, sought rest -from their fatigue and forgetfulness of their mutual anger. Si and -Shorty kept sternly apart. Shorty occupied himself in fixing the -blankets comfortably for a nest for little Pete Skidmore, while Si, -brooding over the way that Shorty "had flared up about nothin' at all," -and the Orderly-Sergeant's and Capt. McGillicuddy's unjust heat to him, -had kept his eyes fixed on the skyline beyond, and had listened to the -conversation of the rebel officers. It occurred to him that by watching -the two rebels come down he might get an idea of a passage through the -abatis, which would be useful in the morning. He strained his eyes to -catch sight of their movements. - -He saw two projections against the sky-line, which he knew were the men -crossing the works. They separated, and he could make out two black -blotches above the level of darkness and moving down the slope. One came -almost directly toward him, the other going to the left. It occurred to -him to capture one of the men. He would have suggested to Shorty to get -the other, but he could not bring himself to speak to his partner. -Keeping his eyes fixed on the man directly in front, he slowly wriggled -forward without rising. The man was evidently coming cautiously, halting -every few steps, and looking and listening. - -Perfect quiet reigned in the regiment. The men were mostly asleep. Those -who were awake were intently watching the hill for some sign of the -enemy, or as silently foreboding the happenings of the morrow. - -Without making the least noise, Si reached the edge of the abatis. There -a young tulip tree had been left standing, and its plentiful branches -and large leaves made a thick mass of darkness. He rose upright behind, -but his foot came down on a dead stick, which broke with a sharp crack. -All the blood rushed to his heart. But at the same instant his head had -disturbed a whip-poor-will who had taken refuge there from the noise. -She flew away with a tumult of plaintive "whips." The rebel in front -halted for a long time. Then he apparently concluded that an owl was -after the whip-poor-will, and, reassured, came forward. - -As he had crawled along. Si had felt with his hands that he was on a -tolerably beaten path, which ran by the sapling he was now standing -behind. He was sure that this led through the abatis, and the rebel was -coming down it. The rebel came on so near that Si could hear his -breathing, and Si feared he could hear his. The rebel was carrying his -gun at a trail in his right hand, and putting all his powers into his -eyes and ears to detect signs of the presence of Yankees. He hesitated -for a little while before the sapling, and then stepped past it. - -As he did so Si shot out his right arm and caught him around the neck -with so quick and tight a hug that the rebel could not open his mouth to -yell. Si raised his arm so as to press the rebel's jaws together, and -with his left hand reached for his gun. The rebel swayed and struggled, -but the slender Southerner was no match for the broad-shouldered Indiana -boy, whose muscles had been knit by hard work. - -The struggle was only momentary until Si secured the gun, and the -rebel's muscles relaxed from the stoppage of his breath. - -"If you say a word, or try to, you're a dead man," Si whispered, as he -dropped the gun, and substituted his left hand at the man's throat for -his right arm. Taking silence for acquiescence, Si picked up his own gun -and started with his prisoner for the Colonel. He walked upright boldly -now, for the watchers on the rebel works could not see that there was -more than one man in the path. - -The Colonel ordered Si to bring his prisoner back into a gully some -distance behind the line, where he could be interrogated without the -sound reaching the men in the works. - -"Where do you belong?" asked the Colonel. - -"To Kunnel Wheatstone's Jawjy rijimint." - -"How many men have you got over there in the works." - -"Well, a right smart passul." - -"What do you mean by a right smart parcel?" - -"Well, a good big heap." - -"What, a thousand?" - -"Yes, I reckon so." - -"Ten thousand?" - -"I 'spects so." - -"Twenty thousand." - -"Mouty likely." - -"You don't seem to have a clear idea of numbers. How many regiments have -you got over there?" - -"Well, thar's Kunnel Wheatstone's Jawjy rijimint—that's mine; then -thar's Kunnel Tarrant's South Carliny rijimint, and then thar's Kunnel -Bird's Tennessee rijimint, and I don't mind how many others. They've bin -comin' and goin' all day, and I hain't paid no attention to 'em. I only -know that thar's enough to give yo'uns a wallopin' if yo'uns only come -on." - -"Sergeant," said the Colonel, "you did a splendid thing in capturing -this man and bringing him to me, but I fear I shall not get as much -information out of him as I'd like to. I don't presume anybody really -knows just how many men are over there. We've got to jump the works and -take the chances on what we find." - -"We're ready the minute you give the word. Colonel," said Si, saluting. - -"Colonel," said Shorty's voice out of the darkness, "I've brung you one -o' the rebel scouts that was piroutin' out there. I don't know as you -kin make much out o' him, though, for the welt I fetched him with my gun -bar'l seems to've throwed his thinkery out o' gear, and he can't talk -straight." - -"And so you got the other one," Si started to say to his partner, but -then he remembered Shorty's "flarin' up," and held his tongue. - -"I don't imagine that his 'thinkery,' as you call it, was of much -account when it was in order, if it was no better than this other -man's," said the Colonel, with a smile. "Perhaps, if he could think -better he wouldn't be in the rebel army. Sergeant (to the Provost- -Sergeant), take charge of these two men. Give them something to eat, and -send them to Division Headquarters." - -Si and Shorty carefully avoided one another on their way back to the -company, and declined to discuss their exploits with either the Orderly- -Sergeant or Capt. McGillicuddy. - -"Go out and git you a rebel for yourself, if you want to know about -'em," Shorty had snapped at the Orderly. "There's plenty more up there -on the hill. It's full of 'em." - -As everything now seemed quiet in front, the two partners sat down with -their back against trees to catch a little sleep before the momentous -movement in the morning. - -It seemed to Si that he had hardly closed his eyes when the Orderly -shook him and whispered an order to help arouse the men and get them -into line. - -"Don't make the least noise," whispered the Orderly. "I hear the rebels -moving around, but we want to jump 'em before they know we're up. The -further we can get through that abatis before they discover us, the -fewer we'll have killed. It's going to be mighty tough work at best, and -I wish that we were going over the works now." - -It was the chill gray of the morning, when every man's spirits and -courage are at ebb-tide. For an instant, Si felt his heart sink at the -thought of the awful ordeal that confronted them. There came across his -mind a swift vision of the peaceful home back in Indiana, with the -pleasant fields lying about, over which he used to go on sweet Spring -mornings like this and note the flowers that had bloomed over night, and -the growth the wheat had made. How sickening to be now starting to open -up a hell of pain, wounds, and death. Then his natural courage and will -reasserted themselves, and he began rousing the boys, but with a -tenderness born of the thought that their hearts would be as low as his -in that bleak hour. - -Jim Humphreys waked up stolidly, and without a word began preparing to -fall in. Alf Russell's and Monty Scruggs's faces turned ashy after they -had fairly awakened, and they picked up their guns with nerveless -fingers. - -Harry Joslyn took the position of a soldier, with his gun at an order, -his lips tightly closed, and his eyes fixed on the rebel position, as -the spreading light developed it. Sandy Baker fidgeted about at one time -tinkering with his gun and equipments, and then stopping half-way in the -task he had started and falling into a fit of musing. Little Pete -Skidmore wandered about, looking into Si's and Shorty's grave faces, and -then into others equally solemn, and finding no comfort in any. It was -the first time that he heard no joke or quip flash along the forming -line to bring cheers or laughter. - -"Come, boys," said Si, kindly, "eat your breakfasts. You can't make no -coffee nor fry no meat, but you'd better fill up on cold grub. You'll -need all you can eat." - -The mention of something to eat seemed to remind Gid Mackall of his -usual appetite. He pulled a cracker out of his haversack and bit it, but -it seemed distasteful, and he spat the piece out. - -"The orders are," said the Orderly-Sergeant in a low tone, as he passed -down in front of the company, "to strip off your bankets, canteens, and -haversacks, and pile them. They'll be in the road in the rush, and catch -in going through the abatis." - -"Orderly," said Shorty in his most conciliatory way, "if you want to do -me a favor make Pete Skidmore one of the detail." - -"I ain't asking suggestions from you," said the Orderly, still surly. -"But I shall detail Baker and Skidmore for the duty." - -The boys flung their things off with something like desperation in their -looks. - -It was now daylight, but a dense fog prevented seeing more than a few -feet. - -"We can't wait any longer," said the Colonel. "Pass the word down the -line to move forward. Make no noise till the enemy opens fire. Then -everybody push forward as rapidly as possible for the works." - -"The first fire will probably go over our heads and do little damage," -said Capt. McGillicuddy, stepping down to the center, so that his -whisper could be heard by all. "It's always so when men fire downhill. -Then, you all want to be careful and fire low, so as to hit as many as -possible, and rattle them in their future firing. The more of them we -can hit the less of us will be hit afterward. Forward—Guide right!" - -It seemed as if the crashing of their marching feet was so loud that the -rebels on the hill could not fail to hear it, and they held their -breaths in painful expectancy of the volley. But they had gotten a rod -or more into the entangling brush of the abatis, and were stumbling and -crashing amid the baffling branches, before they heard the voice of the -previous night command: - -"Ready—Aim—aim low—Fire!" - -The rebel muskets crashed together in a terrific volley, which generally -passed over the heads of the 200th Ind., though a few men fell into the -brush with wounds. - -Si had gone up the path that he had found the night before, and -therefore had no struggle with the fallen trees to shake his nerves and -disturb his aim. He had calculated upon this. He brought his musket down -deliberately and took good aim at the point whence the voice of command -had come. As his gun cracked he heard voices cry: - -"The Kunnel's shot. Look out for the Kunnel thar." - -Another voice immediately spoke up in command: "Steady, men! Keep cool! -Fire low, and give it to the blue-bellied scoundrels!" - -Then broke out a mad rage of death and destruction, in which both sides -seemed in the fiercest insanity of murder. The 200th Ind., encouraged by -the shouts of their officers, pressed forward through the baffling tree- -tops, stumbling, falling, rising again, firing as fast as they could -load their guns, and yelling like demons. They were frantic to get -through the obstructions and come to hand-to-hand struggle with the -fiends who were yelling and firing from the top of the breastworks. - -The rebel battery in the fort began hurling a tornado of shells as near -as they could bring their guns to bear on the yelling. This aroused its -enemy battery of the night before, and it opened up viciously. The -regiments to the right and left of the 200th Ind. moved forward at the -sound of the firing, and added to the dinning turbulence. - -Si had kept to the path, firing coolly and with deadly aim as he kept -pace with the line, which was fiercely forging through the brush. There -had gathered behind him Jim Humphreys, Harry Joslyn, and Gid Mackall. -The rest had gathered over toward Shorty, who was raging through the -abatis, tearing aside the branches which impeded the others, yelling, -swearing most horribly, and firing as a loaded gun would be handed him. -He happened to look around to see who was handing him guns, and saw that -it was Pete Skidmore and Sandy Baker. - -"I thought you little brats was ordered to stay behind with the things," -he gasped. - -"I know we was," whimpered little Pete as he capped a gun and handed it -to Shorty; "but we couldn't stay when we heard the yelling and shooting. -We was so scared that we was afraid to stay there, so we hunted you up, -and—" - -"Come on, boys," yelled Shorty to the others. "Go ahead. We're almost -through, and then we'll salivate them whelps of damnation." - -A bullet came so nigh Si's face that it seemed to burn him, and then he -heard it strike. Jim Humphreys fell without a groan—a bullet through his -brain. - -"Don't mind that. Forward, boys," shouted Si. "Here's the end of the -abatis." - -Gid Mackall fell, and Harry Joslyn turned to help him. - -"Don't mind him. Come on," Si called over his shoulder, as he rushed in -the clear place, just at the edge of the shallow ditch in front of the -works. "Everybody this way." - -The Charge Thru the Abatis. 211 - -All that was left of the regiment was now through the abatis. The fog -suddenly lifted, and showed the combatants face to face, with only the -ditch and the bank of earth between them. The sight was so startling -that both sides paused for an instant. - -"Forward, 200th Ind.! Rally on your colors!" rang out the clear, sweet, -penetrating voice of the Colonel, as he snatched the colors from the -hand of the third man who had borne them since the regiment moved -forward, and sprang up the side of the works. - -Of the pandemonium that reigned inside the rebel works for the next few -minutes Si only recollected seeing the Orderly-Sergeant, bareheaded, and -with bayonet fixed, leap down from the bank and transfix a man who tried -to snatch the flag from the Colonel's hand. Si arrived just in time to -shoot the rebel officer who was striking at the Orderly with his sword, -while Shorty came up, knocking down a winrow of men with his gun swung -by the butt as a club, to rescue Si from three rebels who were trying to -bayonet him. - -All at once the entire rebel line broke and ran down the hill in a wave -of dingy brown, while another wave of blue rolled over the works to the -right and left of the 200th Ind. - -"I hope you ain't hurt, Orderly," said Si, dropping the butt of his -musket on the ground, and wiping his flushed face. "I thought that -officer was goin' to git you, sure." - -"He would, if it hadn't been for you, Si. He got in one slash on me, but -it ain't much, I think. But Shorty helped you out of a tight box." - -"Yes; Shorty generally does that," said Si, with a beaming look on his -partner. "He's the best soldier in the regiment, and kin always be -trusted to git in on time anywhere." - -"Well, I'm afraid it 'll be a short roll I'll have to call this -evening," said the Orderly, with a sorrowful expression. "I suppose we'd -better go back through that brush and look up the boys that were -dropped." - - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. GATHERING UP THE BOYS AFTER THE BATTLE. - -"HOORAY for Injianny. Injianny gits there every time," roared Si, -joining the yelling, exultant throng crowding around the Colonel. "The -old 200th wuz the first to cross the works, and miles ahead o' any other -rejimint." - -"Bully for the Wild Wanderers of the Wabash," Shorty joined in. "They're -the boss regiment in the army o' the Cumberland, and the Army o' the -Cumberland's the boss army on earth. Hooray for US Co. Le's have a -speech. Where's Monty Scruggs?" - -"Yes, Where's Monty?" echoed Si, with a little chill at his heart, for -he had not remembered seeing the boy since they emerged from the abatis, -just before the final rush. - -"Well, le's have a song, then," said Shorty, as Si was looking around. -"Where's Alf Russell?" - -"Yes, Where's Alf Russell?" echoed Si, with a new pang clutching at his -heart, for he then recalled that he had not seen Alf since he had helped -him up the embankment, immediately after which Si's thoughts, had been -engrossed by the struggle for the flag. "Did any of you boys see either -Alf or Monty?" he asked nervously. - -"And has anybody seen Pete Skidmore?" chimed in Shorty, his voice -suddenly changing from a tone of exultation to one of deepest concern. -"Why don't some o' you speak? Are you all dumb?" - -Somehow everybody instinctively stopped cheering, and an awed hush -followed. - -"All of Co. Q step this way," called out the Orderly-Sergeant. All of -the usual "rasp" had left the strong, rough voice. There was a mournful -tremor in it. "Fall in, Co. Q, over there by this pile of picks and -shovels." - -Scarcely 20 of the 80 stalwart youths who had lined up at the foot of -the rugged palisades of Rocky Face two evenings before grouped -themselves together in response to the Orderly's call. - -Capt. McGillicuddy, the Orderly, Si, and Shorty strained their eyes to -see more of the company disengaging themselves from the throng around -the Colonel. - -The Orderlies of the other companies called to their men to fall in at -different places. - -The Colonel looked at the muster with sad eyes. - -"Didn't nobody see nothin' o' little Skidmore?" savagely repeated -Shorty, walking back to the works and scanning the country round. "Was -you all so blamed anxious lookin' out for yourselves that you didn't pay -no attention to that little boy? Nice gang, you are." - -"Orderly, take the company back into the abatis, and look for the boys," -ordered Capt. McGillicuddy. - -"'Tention, company!" commanded the Orderly. "Stack arms! Right -face—Break ranks—March!" - -"Hello, boys," said Monty Scruggs's voice, weak but unmistakably his, as -the company recrossed the works. - -"Great heavens! he's bin shot through the bowels?" thought Si, turning -toward him with sickening apprehension of this most dreaded of wounds. -Then, aloud, with forced cheerfulness—"I hope you ain't hurt bad, -Monty." - -"I was hurt bad enough, the Lord knows," answered the boy with a wan -smile. "I hain't been hurt so bad since I stubbed by sore toe last -Summer. But I'm getting over it pretty fast. Just as I started up the -bank a rebel threw a stone as big as my fist at me, and it took me -square where I live. I thought at first that whole battery over there in -the fort had shot at me all at once. Goodness, but it hurt! My, but that -fellow could throw a stone! Seemed to me that it went clear into me, and -bent my back-bone. I've been feeling to see if it wasn't bent. But we -got the works all right, didn't we?" - -"You bet we did," Si answered exultantly. "Licked the stuffin' out of -'em. Awful glad you're no worse hurt, Monty. Make your way inside there, -and you'll find the Surgeon. He'll bring you around all right. We're -goin' to look for the other boys." - -"Alf Russell caught a bullet," said Monty Scruggs. "I heard him yell, -and turned to look at him, when that rebel's bowlder gave me something -else to think about, so I don't know where he is." - -"Gid Mackall's lying over there, somewhere," said Larry Joslyn, who was -all anxiety in regard to his old partner and antagonist. "Let me go and -find him." - -"Go ahead," said Si, helping Monty to his feet. "I'll be right with -you." - -While Si was going back the way he had come Shorty was tearing through -the tangled brush, turning over the tree-tops by main strength, -searching for Pete Skidmore. The rest of the company were seeking out -the fallen ones hither and thither, and calling to one another, as they -made discoveries, but Shorty only looked for Pete Skidmore. Si and Harry -presently came to Gid Mackall's body, lying motionless in a pool of -blood that dyed crimson the brown leaves thickly covering the ground. -His cap had fallen off, and his head had crushed down into a bunch of -slender oak twigs; his eyes were closed, and his callow face white as -paper. - -"O, he's dead! He's stone dead," wailed Harry Joslyn. "And just think -how I quarreled and fought with him this morning." - -"Mebbe not," said Si, to whom such sights were more familiar, "That -bullet hole in his blouse is too low down and too fur out to've hit -either his heart or his lungs, seems to me. Mebbe he's only fainted from -loss o' blood. Ketch hold o' his feet. I'll take his head, and we'll -carry him back to the Surgeon. Likely he kin bring him to." - -The rough motion roused Gid, and as they clambered back over the works, -Harry was thrilled to see him open his eyes a little ways. - -"Apparently," said the busy Surgeon, stopping for a minute, with knife -and bullet-forceps in his bloodstained hands, to give a brief glance and -two or three swift touches to Gid, "the ball has struck his side and -broke a rib or two. He's swooned from loss of blood. The blood's stopped -flowing now, and he'll come around all right. Lay him over there in the -shade of those trees. Put something under his head, and make him as -comfortable as possible. I'll attend to him as soon as I can get through -with these men who are much worse off than he is." - -And the over-worked Surgeon hurried away to where loud groans were -imperatively calling for his helpful ministrations. - -Si and Harry broke down a thick layer of cedar branches to make a -comfortable bed for Gid, placed a chunk under his head, and hurried away -again to search for Alf Russell. They went over carefully that part of -the works they had crossed, and the abatis in front, but could find no -trace of him. They feared that after he had been shot he had crawled -back under the shelter of some tree-tops, to protect him from the flying -bullets, and died there. They turned over and pulled apart the branches -for a wide space, but did not succeed in finding him, or any trace. But -they found Bob Willis, stark in death, lying prone in the top of a young -hickory, into which he had crashed, when the fatal bullet found him -pressing courageously forward. Him they carried pitifully forward, and -added to the lengthening row of the regiment's dead, which was being -gathered up. - -Then they went reluctantly back—shuddering with the certainty of what -they should find, to bring in Jim Humphreys's body. - -Harry Joslyn was so agitated by the sight of Humphreys's mangled head -and staring eyes that Si made him turn his back, place himself between -the feet, one of which he took in each hand, and go before in carrying -the body back. Si stripped the blouse up so as to cover the head, and -took the shoulders between his hands, and so another body was added to -the row of the regimental dead. - -Si himself was so sick at heart that he had little inclination to -continue the search farther than to look over the wounded, as they were -brought in, in hopes of finding some of his squad there. - -"There are three of us yet missing," he said. "Mebbe they've got mixed -up with the Kankakee boys on our left, and'll come in all right after -awhile. Mebbe they're out with Shorty somewhere. I'll wait till he comes -in. Harry, I expect me and you'd better dig poor Jim's grave. There's no -tellin' how long we'll stay here. Jim 'd rather we put him under than -strangers what don't know and care for him. It's all we kin do for the -poor feller; I'll git a pick and you take a shovel. We'll make the grave -right here, where the Colonel lit when he jumped over the works with the -flag. That'll tickle Jim, if he's lookin' down from the clouds. Too bad, -he couldn't have lived long enough to see us go over the embankment, -with the Colonel in the lead, wavin' the flag." - -"The best thing," said Harry, forgetting his sorrow in the exciting -memories of the fight, "was to see the Orderly sock his bayonet up to -the shank in the rebel, and you blow off that officer's head—" - -"Hush, Harry. Never speak o' that," Si admonished him. - -"And see you," continued Harry, "stand off all three of them rebels, who -was tryin' to bayonet you, until Corp'l Elliott came raring down, -swinging his gun like a flail. Great Scott! didn't he lay 'em out, -though! I saw it all, as I was loading my gun in nine times to shoot one -of the rebels attacking you, I'd just got the cap on, when Corp'l -Elliott loped in." - -"Orderly," said Si a little later, "we've got Jim Humphreys's grave dug. -Will you take the things out of his pockets to send to his folks? and -then we'll bury him." - -"Better wait till the Captain comes back and gives the orders," said the -Orderly. "I don't want to touch his pockets without the Captain's -orders. Then, we ought to have his blanket to bury him in. You go ahead -and dig Bob Willis's grave, and I'll take a detail back and bring up the -blankets and things." - -Shorty had pushed his unavailing search for little Pete far past the -point where he remembered to have seen the boy, in the midst of the -fighting. He had torn his hands and worn out his strength in tearing -aside the brush to expose every possible place that the dying boy or his -dead body might be concealed. He had reached the further side of the -obstruction, and sat down on a stump, in despair of heart and exhaustion -of body. - -Those with him, more intent on getting something to eat, had pushed on -back to where their haversacks and canteens and blankets had been left. - -Presently Shorty heard a call across the little valley: - -"Cor—po—ral Ell—iott. Cor—po—ral Ell—iott!" - -"Well, what is it?" Shorty called back, crustily. - -"Lit—tle—Pete—and—Sandy—Ba—ker—is—o—ver—here," came back upon the bright -Spring air. - -Shorty sprang up electrified, and tore across the intervening space at -the double-quick. He found Pete and Sandy Baker standing soberly on -guard over the line of the company's blankets and belongings. - -"Great Jehosephat, you little brats, how did you git here?" he -exclaimed, snatching little Pete up and hugging him. - -"Why shouldn't we be here?" asked Pete, as soon as he could get breath. -"Didn't the Captain order us to stay here? Me and Sandy follered you -fellers until you jumped inside the works, and the rebels was a runnin'. -We stood on top o' the bank and shot at the rebels as fast as we could -load our guns. We kept shootin' at 'em till they got clean down to the -road. Then we saw the Captain lookin' over our way, and we thought he -was comin' over there to skin us alive for leaving the things, and we -ducked down behind the bank and run back here as fast as we could fetch -it. You ain't goin' to tell the Captain on us, and have us tied up by -the thumbs, are you, Corporal? Everything's safe. Nothing's gone. You -won't tell, will you?" - -"O, you worthless little scamp," said Shorty, with tears of joy in his -eyes. "You ain't worth the powder that'd blow you up. I could pound you -for the worry you've given me in the last hour. But you ain't hurt a -bit, are you?" - -"Nope," answered Pete. "But we both got awfully scratched runnin' -through that brush. Say, wasn't the way the boys jumped the works and -waded into them sardines just grand?" - -The Orderly-Sergeant and his detail came back for the things, and Shorty -and the boys, picking up those belonging to the squad, made their way to -the company. - -By the time they got back everybody's emotions had subsided sufficiently -to allow him to remember that he was terribly hungry, and that the next -business in order should be the cooking of the first warm meal they had -had for more than a day. Fires were soon blazing in every direction, and -the air was fragrant with the smell of hot coffee and cooking meat. Even -Monty Scruggs felt that the kink had gone out of his backbone, and the -disturbance in his dietetic department had sufficiently subsided to -allow him to enjoy a cup of coffee and piece of toasted meat on a -hardtack. The Surgeon had reached Gid Mackall, and had put him in -comfortable shape. - -The bodies of Bob Willis and Jim Humphreys were wrapped in their -blankets, and mournfully consigned to the earth. A cedar bush was stuck -in the head of each grave, and Si, finding a piece of smooth board and a -chunk of soft charcoal from a fire, sat down on the bank, and begun -laboriously composing the following inscription: - -JAMES HUMFRI CO. Q. - -200th injianny VolunTer Infantry KiLD may, 15th 1864 He dide For His -country The lord luvs a - -Braiv man - -"That's all right. Si," said Shorty coming up with his mouthful of -hardtack and meat, and inspecting Si's work with critical approval. "You -kin lay away over me and all the rest when it comes to writin' and -composin'. And you know how to spell, too. I wish I had your education. -But I never had a chance to go to school." - -"Then you think it'll do, Shorty," said Si, much flattered by his -partner's approval. - -"Yes, it's just bully. But I think you ought to say something about -Jim's good character. That's usual on tombstones. You might say of him -that he had in him the makin' of the finest poker player in the Army of -the Cumberland. I never see a sleepyheaded boy pick up the fine pints o' -the game like he did, and he had nerve, too, along with his science." - -"No, it wouldn't do at all to put anything o' that kind on," answered -Si, going to the grave, and driving the board down with a pick. "Mustn't -let Jim's folks know for the world that he gambled. It'd be the last -straw on his poor old mother, who's a strict Baptist. She may stand -hearing that he's killed, but never could that he played cards. What in -the world's become of Alf Russell, do you s'pose?" - -"Who in Jeff Davis's dominions is that comin' up?" said Shorty, scanning -an approaching figure. "Looks as if he'd had his head busted and then -tied up agin with strings." - -The figure certainly looked like Alf Russell and wore Alf Russell's -clothes, but the head was unrecognizable. A broad white bandage -encircled the face, going from the top of the forehead around under the -chin, and there were several folds of it. Then it ran around the head -transversely, covering the nose and the cheeks, and only allowing the -mouth and the eyes to show. - -"Hello, boys," said a weak voice, which was unmistakably Alf Russell's. - -"Hello, Alf," said Si delightedly. "I'm so glad to see you. I've bin -huntin' everywhere for you. What's happened to you? Badly hurt?" - -"Nothing, only the left side o' my head tore out," said Alf feebly. -"Something struck me, probably a bomb-shell, just as I was going up the -bank after you. I went down to our Surgeon, but he was too busy to -attend to me. I then found the brigade hospital, but the Surgeons there -were too busy, too. They gave me a roll of bandages, and told me to fix -it up myself. I did it with the help of one of the men who was waiting -to have his leg dressed. I fancy I did quite a neat piece of bandaging, -as well as the Surgeons themselves could've done it. Don't you think -so?" - -"Great Scott!" gasped Si, "you couldn't be walkin' around with the side -of your head knocked out. I'm astonished at you." - -"So'm I," returned Alf placidly. "I'm surprised that I'm doing as well -as I am. But I gave myself good attendance, and that's a great thing. -I'm awful hungry. Got anything to eat? Where's my haversack?" - -"Here it is," said Si, readily. "And here's a cup o' hot coffee. I'll -brile you a piece o' meat. But really, I don't think you ought to eat -anything before the Surgeon sees you. Mebbe it won't be good for you." - -"I'll chance it," said Alf desperately, reaching for the cup of coffee. -"I'm sure it'll be better for me to eat something." - -"Le's go down and see the Surgeon," insisted Si. - -"No," protested Alf, "it ain't hurting me much now, and he's awful busy -with other men, so we hadn't better interrupt him." - -"The Surgeon ought to see you at once, Alf," interjected Shorty. "Here -comes one of 'em now. Doctor, will you please look at this boy." - -"Certainly," said the Surgeon, stopping on his way. "I guess I can spare -a minute. Take off that bandage, my boy." - -"Don't mind me. Doctor," said Alf. "'Taint hurting me now, at all, -scarcely. I did it up very carefully." - -"Take off the bandage at once, I tell you," said the Surgeon -imperatively. "I haven't any time to waste. Let me see your wound." - -Alf set down his cup of coffee, and began laboriously unwinding the long -bandage, while the rest stood around in anxious expectation. Yards of -folds came off from around his forehead and chin, and then he reached -that around his nose and the back of his head. Still the ghastly edges -of the terrible wound did not develop. Finally the blood-soaked last -layer came off, and revealed where a bullet had made a shallow but ugly- -looking furrow across the cheek and made a nick in the ear. - -"Alf, that rebel come dumbed nigh missin' you," said the greatly -relieved Si. - -"If you should happen to ketch cold in that it wouldn't git well for a -week," added Shorty. - -"Give me that bandage," said the Surgeon just before he hurried away. -"Take this sticking-plaster and draw the lips of the wound together, and -if you keep the dirt out it may heal without a scar." - - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. AN ARTILLERY DUEL AND A "DEMONSTRATION" ON THE ENEMY'S -POSITION. - -"RUSSELL, that ain't going to heal without a A scar," Alf Russell -consoled himself, as he studied his hurt with a little round pocket -looking-glass, a screen of bushes concealing him from his unappreciative -comrades. "It's more than Monty Scruggs nor Harry Joslyn nor Sandy -Baker'll have to show for the fight. It's even more than Gid Mackall -has, even though he is knocked out. I ought to be sent to the hospital, -too. It'll be something to write home to father and mother, and they'll -put it in the paper and the folks'll talk about it. Gracious, there's a -bugle blowing again. Wonder what that means?" - -"That's the Headquarters bugle," said Si, pricking up his ears. "That's -'Attention.' Git your traps together, boys. 'Assembly' 'll come next." - -"Good gracious!" gasped Alf Russell, coming out from behind the bushes, -"they don't expect us to do any more fighting today, do they?" - -"Very likely," said Shorty, helping Pete Skidmore on with his blanket- -roll. "The job ain't done till it is done, and there's lots o' rebels -over there yit who need lickin'. Now's the best time to finish it. This -ain't nothin' to Stone River and Chickamaugy. Got your canteen full, -Pete? Better fill it before we start. Take mine, too. Don't go any -further'n that first spring there, for I don't want to take no chances -on losin' you again." - -The cannonading in the distance grew fiercer, and regiments could be -seen rushing up at the doublequick. Long, shrill rebel yells came from -the hilltops, and were answered by volleys and deep-toned cheers. - -Another bugle-call rang out from Brigade Headquarters. - -"Fall in, Co. Q," sharply commanded the Orderly-Sergeant. - -With a shiver of apprehension, with a nervous memory of the bitter hours -just past, with the sight before their eyes of the scarcely-cold dead, -the remainder of the company fell in with sadly-shrunken ranks. - -"Orderly, we need some more cartridges," suggested Shorty. - -"I've been thinking of that," replied the Orderly, "and wondering where -to go for them." - -"I saw some boxes of Enfields up there toward the battery," said Si. -"The rebels left 'em. They'll fit our guns, and them English cartridges -is just as good as ours." - -"Pike over and get them, quick, before the other fellows drop on to -'em," said the Orderly. - -"Gracious! going to shoot the rebels with their own bullets," remarked -Monty, who had nearly recovered, and came up pluckily to take his place -in the ranks. "Isn't that great medicine! How I should like to pop one -into that fellow that belted me with that bowlder." - -"Hello, Monty," called Shorty jovially to drive out the sad thoughts. -"Got that kink out o' your backbone? Bully boy. You've got the right -kind of nerve. You'll be a man before your mother yet." - -"Yes, and I'm here, too, and don't you forget it," said Alf Russell, not -to be outdone by Monty nor unnoticed. "By rights, I ought to be in the -hospital." - -"By rights, I ought to be a Jigadier-Brindle," retorted Shorty, "but I -never could git Abe Lincoln to take that view of it. Here, fill up your -cartridgebox. You'll need lots of 'em, if you're only goin' to shoot to -crease your rebels, as that feller did you." - -It was not brilliant pleasantry, but it served. It set them to thinking -of something else. They hastily filled their cartridge-boxes, adjusted -their blankets, and when the bugle sounded forward they started with -something of their original nerve. - -The regiment moved off at the head of the brigade, and after a march of -a mile or so came out upon a hill from which they could see one of our -batteries having an unequal fight with several of the rebel batteries in -a fort far to its front. Our cannoneers were standing up bravely to -their work, but the rebel shells were bursting about them in a wild -storm of crashing, deafening explosions, and hurtling, shrieking masses -of iron. The sharp crack of their own rifles was at times drowned by the -ear-splitting din of the bursting shells. - -"Goodness!" murmured Monty Scruggs, with colorless lips, as the regiment -came into line and moved forward to the battery's line of caissons at -the bottom of the hill. "I'm so glad I didn't enlist in the artillery. I -don't see how anybody up there can live a minute." - -"Yes, it looks like as if those artillery boys are earnin' their $13 a -month about every second of their lives," remarked Shorty. "There ought -to be some other batteries loafin' around somewhere that could join in." - -The boys leaned on their muskets and watched the awful spectacle with -dazed eyes. It seemed far more terrible even than the ordeal through -which they had just been. - -The battery was one of the oldest and best in the army, and its "fire -discipline" was superb. - -The Captain stood on a little elevation to the rear and somewhat apart, -intently studying the rebel line through his field-glasses. After a few -words of direction as to the pointing of the guns, and the command, -"Begin firing," he had given no orders, scarcely spoken. He could not -have been heard in that terrible turmoil. He had simply brought his -terrible engine of destruction—the engine upon which he and his men had -lavished years of laborious drilling and training—into position, and set -it going. - -What the result would be fate alone would determine. That was a matter -that neither he nor his men regarded. If it destroyed or crippled its -opponents it was simply doing the work for which it had been created. If -its opponents destroyed it, that was a contingency to be accepted. It -was there to endure that fate if so ordered. - -Behind the wings of the battery stood the Lieutenants, leaning on their -sabers, and gazing with fixed, unmoving eyes on the thunderous wrack and -ruin. - -They said nothing. There was no reason for saying anything. Everything -was working systematically and correctly. Every man was doing his best, -and in the best way. Nobody needed reminder, reprimand, direction or -encouragement. - -Similarly, the Sergeants stood behind their sections, except that one -after another they stepped forward to the guns to take the places of men -who had fallen and could not be replaced. At the guns the men were -working with the swiftness of light flashes, and the unerring certainty -of machines. To the watchers at the base of the slope they seemed to -weave back and forth like some gigantic, demoniac loom, as they sprang -at their guns, loaded them, "broke away" as they fired, leaped back -again, caught the gun in its recoil, hurled it forward, again reloaded, -"broke away" and fired, all quicker than thought. A shell took off a -sponger's head, but the sponge-staff was caught by another before it -fell, and the gun fired again without a pause. A shrapnel swept away -every man about one gun. The Lieutenant looked inquiringly at the -Sergeant, and in an instant another squad seemed to spring up from the -ground to continue the firing without missing a note in the battery's -rhythm. - -The groups about each gun thinned out, as the shrieking fragments of -shell mowed down man after man, but the rapidity of the fire did not -slacken in the least. One of the Lieutenants turned and motioned with -his saber to the riders seated on their horses in the line of limbers -under the cover of the slope. One rider sprang from each team and ran up -to take the place of men who had fallen. - -The next minute the Lieutenant turned and motioned again, and another -rider sprang from each team and ran up the hill. But one man was now -left to manage the six horses attached to each limber. He soon left, -too, in obedience to the Lieutenant's signal, and a faint, bleeding man -came back and climbed into his place. - -A shrapnel shell burst almost under the left gun and lifted it up in the -air. When the smoke opened a little not a man could be seen about the -cannon. A yell of exultation floated over from the rebel line. - -The Lieutenant unbuckled his saber, dropped it to the ground, and ran -forward to the cannon. Two or three men rose slowly from the ground, -upon which they had been prostrated, and joined the Lieutenant in -running the gun back to its place, and reloading it. - -Hooray for the Old Battery. 231 - -"Hooray for the old battery! Bully boys! Made o' right stuff," shouted -Shorty enthusiastically. "Never ketch me saying nothin' agin' the -artillery agin. Men who act like that when they're standin' right in the -middle o' hell with the lid off are 18karat fine." - -"Captain," suggested Si, who was fidgeting under the excitement of a -scene in which he was taking no part, "wouldn't it be well for some of -us to go up there and help the battery boys out? I could sponge and -ram." - -"No," answered the Captain; "help has been sent for for them, and there -it comes." - -He pointed back over the hill to where two batteries were coming from -different directions on a dead run. It was a magnificent sight. One -battery was following the road, and the other cutting across the open -space in a hot race to get ahead and be in action first. - -The Captains were galloping ahead to point out the way. The Sergeants -were alongside, seconding the whips of the drivers with strokes of the -flats of their sabers on the animals' hanches. The six horses to each -gun were galloping like mad, snatching the heavy piece over gullies, -bumps, logs, and rocks as if it were a straw. The gunners had abandoned -their usual calm pose with folded arms on the limber chests, and were -maintaining their seats only by a desperate clutch on the side-irons. - -The boys turned even from the storm in front to watch the thrilling -spectacle. - -The two Captains were fairly abreast as they led their batteries up the -long slope, crushing the brush, sending sticks and stones flying from -the heavy, flying wheels. Both reached the crest at the same time, and -the teams, wheeling around at a gallop, flung the muzzles of the cannon -toward the enemy. Without waiting for them to stop the nimble cannoneers -sprang to ground, unlimbered the guns, rolled them into position, sent -loads down their black throats, and before it was fairly realized that -they had reached the crest hurled a storm of shells across the valley at -the rebel batteries. - -"Hooray! Hooray! They're gittin' some o' their own medicine now," yelled -the excited regiment. "Sock it to 'em. How do you like that, you ill- -begotten imps of rebels?" - -The rebel cannoneers seemed to lose heart at once under the storm of -fire that beat upon them. The volume of their fire diminished at once, -and then became fitful and irregular. Two of their limbers were blown up -in succession, with thunderous noise, and this further discouraged them. - -Obeying a common impulse, the 200th Ind., regardless of the dropping -shells, had left its position, and pressed forward toward the crest, -where it could see what was going on. - -The Colonel permitted this, for he anticipated that a charge on the -rebel works would follow the beating down of the artillery fire, and he -wanted his regiment to be where it would get a good start in the race to -capture a rebel battery. He simply cautioned the Captains to keep their -men in hand and ready. As Capt. McGillicuddy called Co. Q closer -together, it occurred to Shorty that in the interest he had taken in the -artillery duel he had not looked after Pete Skidmore for some time, and -he began casting his eyes around for that youth. He was nowhere to be -seen, and, of course, no one knew anything about him. - -"Why don't you get a rope. Shorty, and tie the blamed kid to you, and -not be pestering yourself and everybody else about him all the time?" -asked the Orderly-Sergeant irritably, for he was deeply intent upon the -prospective charge, and did not want to be bothered. "He's more worry -than he's worth." - -"Shut up!" roared Shorty. "If you wasn't Orderly-Sergeant I'd punch your -head. I won't have nobody sayin' that about little Pete. He's the best -boy that ever lived. If I could only git hold of him I'd shake the -plaguey life out o' him. Drat him!" - -Shorty anxiously scanned the field in every direction, but without his -eyes being gladdened by the sight of the boy. - -The wounded being carried back from the batteries impressed him sadly -with the thought that Pete might have been struck by a piece of shell. - -"Him and Sandy Baker are both gone," said the Orderly, looking over the -company. "I'll buck-and-gag both of 'em when I catch 'em, to learn 'em -to stay in ranks." - -"Indeed you won't," said Shorty, under his breath. - -The rebel fire had completely died down, and our own ceased, to allow -the guns to cool for a few minutes, in preparation for an energetic -reopening when the anticipated charge should be ordered. - -To be in readiness for this, the Colonel drew the regiment forward -through the batteries, to lie down on the slope in front, that he might -have a start on the other Colonels. As they passed through the batteries -a little imp, about the size of Pete Skidmore, but with face as black as -charcoal, pulled off the leather bag in which cartridges are carried -from the limber to the gun, and handed it to one of the cannoneers, who -said: - -"Well, good-by, if you must be going. You done well. You ought to belong -to the artillery. You're too good for a dough-boy. I'm going to ask the -Captain to have you detailed to us." - -A similar scene was taking place at the next gun, with a little -blackamoor about the size of Sandy Baker. - -The boys picked up their guns and belts from the ground, and fell in -with Co. Q. - -"Hello, Corporal," said Pete, with a capacious grin rifting the powder -grime on his face. "We've just bin having lots o' fun." - -"Pete, you aggravatin' little brat," said Shorty, giving him a cuff that -started the boy's tears to making little white streaks through the -black, "where in the world have you bin, and what've you bin doin'?" - -"Why," whimpered Pete, "me and Sandy crept forward to a rock where we -thought we could see better, and then we thought we could see better -from another, and we kept a-goin' until we got clear up to where the -limbers was, afore we knowed it. Just then a couple o' them powder- -monkeys, as you call 'em, come runnin' back for cartridges, but they was -both hit, and was all bloody, and both of 'em fell down and couldn't go -no further, when they got the cartridges, though they wanted to. Me and -Sandy thought it was too bad that the men up there at the guns shouldn't -have no cartridges, when they was fighting so hard, so we picked up the -boys' bags and run up to the cannon with 'em. The men there was so glad -to git 'em, and told us to lay down our guns and run back for some more. -They kept us goin' till the rebels was knocked out, and we thought we -was doin' right and helpin', and they told us we was, and now you slap -me. Boo-hoo-hoo!" - -"Don't cry, Pete. I done wrong," said Shorty, melting instantly, and -putting his arm around the boy. "You done right, and you're a brave, -good little boy. Only you must not go away from the company without -lettin' me know." - -"Good God," groaned the Colonel, as he halted the regiment down the -slope, and studied the opposite side with his glass. "There's another -abatis, and it looks worse than the one in which we have just left half -the regiment. But we'll go through if there's only one man left to carry -the flag over the works. I don't suppose that we are any better than -those who have already died, or got any better right to live." - -"This is the dumbedest country for cuttin' down trees the wrong way," Si -sadly remarked, as he surveyed the abatis. "It's meaner'n midnight -murder. I'd like to git hold o' the pizen whelp what invented it." - -"The devil invented abatis, just after he invented hell, and as an -improvement on it, and just before he invented secession," Shorty judged -hotly. "When we git through them abatis there I'm goin' to kill -everything I find, just to learn 'em to stop sich heathenish work. It's -sneakin' murder, not war." - -"When we get through," murmured Alf Russell dolefully. "How many of us -will ever get through?" - -"Who'll be the Jim Humphreys and Gid Mackals this time?" said Monty -Scruggs, looking at the tangled mass of tree-tops. - -"Can you see any path through this abatis, Sergeant?" nervously asked -Harry Joslyn. - -"No, Harry," said Si, kindly and encouragingly. "But we'll find some way -to git through. There's probably a path that we kin strike. Stay close -by me, and we'll try our best." - -"Well, I for one am goin' through, and I'm goin' to take Pete and Sandy -with me," said Shorty, in a loud, confident tone, to brace up the -others. "I've always gone through every one o' them things I've struck -yit, and this ain't no worse'n the others. But we ought to jump 'em at -once, while they're shiverin' over the shelling' we give 'em. They must -be shakin' up there yit like a dog on a January mornin'. Why don't we -start, I wonder?" - -The batteries behind them began throwing shells slowly and deliberately, -as if testing their range, before beginning a general cannonade. All -along the crest, to their right and to their left, could be seen -regiments moving up and going into line of battle. - -"It's goin' to be a big smash this time, sure," said Si. "And the 200th -Injianny's got a front seat at the performance. We'll show them how to -do it, and we're just the ones that kin. Brace up, boys. The eyes of the -whole army's on us. They expect big things from us." - -"Here she goes, I guess," he continued, as a bugle sounded at -headquarters. "Everybody git ready to jump at the word, and not stop -goin' till we're inside the works." - -The lines stiffened, every one drew a long breath, gripped his gun, and -braced himself for the fiery ordeal. There was an anxious wait, and then -the Adjutant came walking quietly down the line, with his horse's bridle -over his arm. - -"It seems," he explained to Capt. McGillicuddy, loud enough for the -company to hear, "that we are not to make an assault, after all. There's -enough rebels over there in the works to eat us up without salt. We are -ordered to only make a demonstration, and hold them, while the rest work -down on their flanks toward Calhoun, which is six miles below, and get -in their rear. You can let your men rest in place till further orders." - -"Take the company Orderly," said the Captain, walking off with the -Adjutant. - -"'Tention! Stack arms; Place rest!" commanded the Orderly. - -The revulsion of feeling among the keenly-wrought-up men was almost -painful. - -"Demonstration be blamed," said Si, sinking upon a convenient rock. "I -always did hate foolin'. Gracious, how tired I am." - -"Only a demonstration—only powow, noise, show and bluff," sneered -Shorty, flinging his gun against the stack. "Why didn't they tell us -this an hour ago, and save me all this wear and tear that's makin' me -old before my time? When I git ready for a fight I want it to come off, -without any postponement on account of weather. Come, Pete, go wash your -face and hands, and then we'll spread our blankets and lay down. I'm -tireder'n a mule after crossin' Rocky Face Ridge. I don't want to take -another step, nor even think, till I git a good sleep." - -"We don't have to go over that brush, then?" said Alf Russell, with an -expression of deep relief. "I'm so glad. Great Jerusalem, how my wound -begins to ache again. You fellows oughtn't to laugh at my wound. You -don't know how it hurts to have all those delicate nerves torn up." - -So it was with every one. The moment the excitement of the impending -fight passed away, every one was sinking with fatigue, and all his other -troubles came back. Monty Scruggs suddenly remembered how badly he had -been hurt, and started to drag himself off in search of the Surgeon, -while Harry Joslyn and Sandy Baker, chumming together for the first -time, snuggled together in their blankets, and sought that relief from -the excitement and fatigues of the day which kindly Nature never refuses -to healthy young bodies. - - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. SI AND SHORTY ARE PUT UNDER ARREST. - -THE next morning the rebels were found to be gone from the position in -front of the 200th Ind;, and after breakfast the regiment marched -leisurely by a road around the dreaded abatis, to the ground which had -been scarred and mangled by our terrible artillery fire. - -It was an appalling scene that the eyes of the boys rested upon. Every -horrid form of mutilation and death which could be inflicted by the -jagged shards and fiendish shells, or the even more demon-like shrapnel- -balls, was visible. - -Everything was torn, rent, and ragged, as if soma mighty giant, insane -to destroy, had spent his fury there. Nothing had escaped the iron flail -of devastation. Trees shattered or cut entirely down; limberchests and -cannon-wheels merely bunches of blackened splinters; frightfully mangled -horses, dead, or yet living in agony that filled their great plaintive -eyes; lying in ghastly pools of blood, which filmed and clotted under -the bright rays of the May morning sun. - -"Looks like Judgment morn or the fall of Babylon," muttered the -religious-minded Alf Russell, the first to break their awed silence. - -Awful Destruction. 242 - -"Or the destruction of Sennacherib," suggested Monty Scruggs— - -"For the angel of death spread his wings on the blast, And breathed in -the face of the foe as he passed." - -"I should say he had a mighty strong breath, Monty," Shorty interrupted. -He liked to break in on Monty's heroics. "Excuse me from havin' a -12pounder breathin' around me." - -"And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill, And their hearts -but once heaved, and forever grew still," continued Monty. - -"I'll bet there wasn't much sleepin' around here while that shell'n' was -goin' on," broke in Shorty again. "Except the sleep that has the sod for -a coverlet and Gabriel's trumpet for a breakfast bell." - -Monty continued impressively: - -"And there lay the steed, with his nostrils all wide, But through them -there rolled not the breath of his pride; And the foam of his gasping -lay white on the turf, And cold as the spray of the rock-beating surf." - -"Poor horses," murmured Shorty. "I always feel mighty sorry for them. -They hadn't nothin' to do with gittin' up this rebellion. We must go -around and kill such as is alive, and put them out o' their misery." - -Monty resumed: - -"And there lay the rider, distorted and pale. With the dew on his brow -and the rust on his mail; And the tents were all silent, the banners -alone. The lances uplifted, the trumpets unblown." - -"Serves 'em right, the yaller-bellied, clay-eatin' yowlers," said Shorty -savagely, looking over the mangled corpses. "Pays 'em up for their -murderin' abatis. We got it in this time worse on them than they did on -us, though it'd take as much of this as'd make up several Counties to -pay up for any one o' the good boys we lost yesterday. I hope they are -all where they kin look down and see how we got it on the secesh hell- -hounds. We'll do 'em up worse yit before we're through with 'em." - -"Our batteries are improvin' wonderfully," commented the more practical -Si, studying the field. "They seem to've socked every shell in just -where it'd do the most good. No shootin' at the State o' Georgy -generally and trustin' to luck to hit a rebel. Every shell seems to've -landed just where it was needed, and then 'tended to its business and -busted. You don't see no signs of any strikin' a quarter of a mile away, -nor a whole one layin' around anywhere. That's good gunnin', and I'm -glad our old six-hoss thrashin'-machine done the biggest share of it. -Our brigade has the best battery in the whole army." - -"The regiment will go on," reported Orderly-Sergeant, "but Co. Q will -stay behind to bury the dead, gather up the arms and things, and then -bring up the brigade ammunition train." - -"Stay behind to bury the dead," grumbled Shorty. "Nice business that! -Sextons to the Southern Confederacy. Hain't they got any niggers around -here that they kin set at the work?" - -Nor did Si like the job. "The artillery made the muss, and now the -infantry's got to stay and clean up after it. That don't seem right." - -"Well, orders is orders, and got to be obeyed," said the Orderly- -Sergeant, cutting short the discussion with the usual formulary of his -class. An Orderly-Sergeant is robbed of one of the cherished privileges -of the other enlisted men. He can not criticise or grumble, but must -stop the others from doing so beyond a certain point, and his refuge -must be the prompt assumption that the orders are all right, and must be -executed cheerfully. And he has not the satisfaction of the officers -above him in knowing the why and wherefore of the orders, and perhaps -advising as to them. He is "betwixt and between," as they say out West. - -"The quicker we get at it," continued the Orderly, "the sooner it'll be -over. Serg't Klegg, take eight or 10 men and hunt around for some picks -and shovels. I think that deep trench over there behind the works 'll do -for a grave. You can shovel the bank right down on them and save hard -work. Serg't Wilson, you take eight or 10 men and gather up these pieces -o' men and lay them in there. Corp'l Jones, you take another man or two -and go around and kill those horses. Be careful how you shoot now. Don't -hurt anybody with glancing bullets. Corp'l Elliott, you take the rest -and go round and gather the guns and other things, and pile them up -there by that tree to turn over to the ordnance officer. Hustle, now, -all of you." - -"They didn't think they were digging their own graves," philosophized -Monty Scruggs, as he stood shovel in hand watching the remains being -gathered into the trench. - -"He digged a ditch, he digged it deep; He digged it for his brother, But -for his great sin he fell in The ditch he'd digged for t'other." - -"Good, good, Monty," said Si. "That's the best thing I've heard you -spout yit. Give us some more of it." - -"There isn't any more of it. The only thing I can think of is: - -"The rebel Solomon Grundy; Born in Georgia on Monday; Become a rebel on -Tuesday; Run off from Buzzard's Roost on Wednesday; Got licked at Dalton -on Thursday; Worse whipped at Resaca on Friday; Blown up by a shell on -Saturday; Died and buried on Sunday; And this was the end of Solomon -Grundy." - -Alf Russell's interest in anatomy had led him to join Serg't Wilson's -party in gathering up the ghastly fragments of bodies, but the sights -were too much for his nerves, and as he perceived that he was growing -sick at the stomach he went over to Shorty's squad. - -It was astonishing what things they found, besides guns and equipments. -Evidently, the rebels had left quite hurriedly, and many personal -belongings were either forgotten or could not be found in the darkness. -Samples of about everything that soldiers carry, and a good many that -they are not supposed to, were found lying around. There were cooking -utensils, some on the fire, with corn-pone and meat in them; some where -the imperative orders to march found their owners with their breakfasts -half-devoured; there were hats clumsily fashioned of wisps of long- -leaved pine sewed together; there were caps which had been jaunty red- -and-blue "Zouaves" when their owners had mustered around Nashville in -1861, but had been faded and tarnished and frayed by the mud and rain at -Donelson, Shiloh and Stone River, and by the dust and grime of -Perryville and Chickamauga, until they had as little semblance to their -former perkiness as the grim-visaged war had to the picnic of capturing -ungarrisoned forts and lolling in pleasant Summer camps on the banks of -the Cumberland. There were coats of many patterns and stages of -dilapidation, telling the same story of former finery, draggled through -the injurious grime of a thousand camps and marches. There were patched -and threadbare blankets, tramped-out boots and shoes, an occasional -book, many decks of cards, and so on. - -Shorty came across a new cedar canteen with bright brass hoops. He slung -it over his shoulder, with the thought that it would be a nice thing to -send back to Maria, as a souvenir of the battle. She might hang it up in -her room, or make a pin-cushion or a work-basket out of it. - -Presently he came to a box of shells, which he picked up and carried -back to the tree. It was quite heavy, and when he set it down again he -felt thirsty. The canteen occurred to him. It was full. He raised it to -his lips and took a long swig. - -"Great Jehosephat," he gasped, his eyes starting out with astonishment. -"That ain't water. It's prime old applejack, smoother'n butter, and -smellin' sweeter'n a rose. Best I ever tasted." - -Shorty had been strictly abstinent since his return from Indiana, The -rigid views of the Klegg family as to liquor-drinking had sunk into his -heart, and somehow whenever temptation came his way the clear, far- -seeing eyes of Maria would intervene with such a reproachful glance that -the thought of yielding became repugnant. - -But the smooth, creamy applejack had slipped past his lips so -unexpectedly that it possessed him, before principle could raise an -objection. Shorty was the kind of a man to whom the first drink is the -greatest danger. After he had one almost anything was likely to happen. - -Still, though his blood was already warming with the exhilarating -thrill, there were some twinges of conscience. - -"Now, I mustn't take no more o' that," he said to himself. "That one -drink was good and all right enough, because I really thought I was -goin' to take a drink of water when I put the canteen to my lips. I -could swear that to Maria on a stack o' Bibles high as her dear head. -God bless her!" - -He began bustling about with more activity, and giving his orders in a -louder voice. He saw Pete Skidmore pick up what had been once a militia -officer's gaudy coat, and examine it curiously. He shouted at him: - -"Here, drop that, drop that, you little brat. What 'd I tell you? That -you mustn't fetch a rag of anything you see in here, except with the -point o' your bayonet and with your bayonet on your gun. Drop it, I tell -you." - -"Why, what's the matter with that old coat?" asked Pete in an injured -tone, astonished at Shorty's vehemence. - -"Everything's the matter with it, and every stitch o' cloth you find. -They're swarmin' with rebel bugs. I've trouble enough to keep the Yankee -graybacks off you. If you git the rebel kind on you angwintum won't save -you." - -Pete dropped the coat in affright. - -"And you, Sandy Baker," continued Shorty in a yell, "don't you walk -through them piles o' brush and leaves, where the rebels has bin -sleepin'. You'll git covered with rebel bugs, too, and we'll never git -'em out o' the company. How often 've I got to tell you that?" - -Yelling so much made him dry, and the canteen hung so invitingly near -his hand. - -"I don't think another pull at that old applejack 'll hurt me a mite. I -really didn't git a square drink the first time, because I was choked -off by astonishment at findin' it wasn't water. I'll just take enough of -a swig to finish up that drink." - -"Jerusalem crickets," he exclaimed, wiping his mouth, "but that's good -stuff. Wonder if bein' in cedar makes it taste so bang-up? If I though -so I'd never drink out o' anything but cedar as long's I lived. Guess -I'll keep this canteen to carry water in. I kin send Maria—" - -He stopped. He was not so far gone as to forget that any thought of -Maria was very inappropriate to his present condition. He started to -blustering at the boys who were carrying in guns: - -"Here, how often have I got to caution you galoots about bein' careful -with them guns? Don't let the muzzles pint at yourselves, nor anybody -else. They're all likely to be loaded, and go off any minute, and blow -some o' your cussed heads offen you. Don't slam 'em down that way. Be -careful with 'em, I tell you. I'll come over there and larrup some o' -you, if you don't mind me." - -"What's excitin' Shorty so, to make him yell that way? wondered Si, -stopping in his shoveling down the embankment upon the rebel dead, and -wiping his hot face. - -"O, he's trying to keep them fresh young kids from blowin' themselves -into Kingdom Come with the rebel guns," answered one of the veterans -indifferently, and they resumed their shoveling. - -Shorty started over to where some of the boys were trying to extricate a -rebel limber abandoned in a ravine. He spied a pair of fine field -glasses lying on the ground, and picked them up with an exclamation of -delight. - -"Great Jehosephat," he said, turning them over for careful inspection. -"Ain't this a puddin'? Just the thing to give the Cap. He got his -smashed with a bullet comin' through the abatis, and's bin mournin' -about 'em ever since. These is better'n his was, and he'll be ticked to -death to git 'em." - -He put them to his eyes and scanned the landscape. - -"Ain't they just daisies, though. Bring that teamster over there so -close that I kin hear him cussin' his mules. Cap'll have a better pair -o' glasses than the Colonel or the General has. He deserves 'em, too. -Capt. McGillicuddy's good all the way through, from skin to bone, and as -brave as they make 'em. He'll be tickleder than a boy with a new pair o' -red-topped boots. He'll invite me to take a drink with him, but he won't -have nothin' so good as this old apple-jack. I guess I'll give the rest -to him, too, for his friends at headquarters. They don't often smack -their lips over stuff like that. But I'll treat myself once more, just -as Capt. McGillicuddy'd do." - -The last drink was a settler. He was then in a frame of mind for -anything—to tear down a mountain, or lift a hill, or to fight anybody, -with or without cause. He looked over at the boys struggling with the -limber, and yelled, as he laid his coat, hat, canteen, and cartridge-box -down on the stump upon which he had been sitting, and placed the field- -glass upon them: - -"Hoopee! Yank her out o' there, boys. Yank h'er out, and don't be all -day about it, either. Let me git at her and I'll fetch her out. Stand -by, you kids, and see your uncle Eph snatch her." - -He bolted in to the ravine, swung the limber-tongue about, and with aid -of the rest, stirred to united effort by much profane vociferation on -his part, disengaged the limber and trundled it up the bank. - -The tall, very stiff young Aid, with whom Si and Shorty had had the -previous affair, came stalking on to the ground, viewing everything with -his usual cold, superior, critical gaze. - -"You are doing well, my man," he remarked to Shorty, "but too much -noise. A non-commissioned officer must not swear at his men. It's -strictly against regulations." - -"Go to blazes," said Shorty, scarcely under his breath. The Aid picked -up the field-glasses, looked at them a minute, scanned the field with -them, and then looked around for the case, as if to appropriate them -himself. - -"Here, drop them," said Shorty roughly. "Them's mine." - -"How did they come to be yours, sir?" said the Aid sternly. "Picked them -up, didn't you?" - -"None o' your business how I got 'em. They're mine, I tell you. Give 'em -to me." - -"You picked them up on the battlefield, sir. They are military -equipments which you must turn over to the proper officer. I'll take -charge of them myself." - -"You'll do nothin' o' the kind," roared Shorty, striding up to him. -"Give me them glasses." - -"I shall do nothing of the kind," said the Aid sternly. "Don't you dare -approach me in that w-ay. Go back to your duties at once. I shall punish -you for disrespect to me and threatening an officer. Fall back, sir, I -tell you." - -Shorty made a grab for the glasses, which the Aid tried to evade, but -Shorty fixed his firm clutch upon them. The Aid held on tightly, but -Shorty wrenched them from his grasp. - -"You bob-tailed brevet West Pointer," said Shorty savagely, raising his -fist, "I've a notion to break you in two for tryin' to beat me out o' -what's mine. Git out o' here, or I'll—" - -"Shorty! Shorty! Stop that!" shouted Si, rushing over to his partner, -and catching his back-drawn fist. He had been suspicious as to the cause -of his partner's noisiness, and ran up as soon as the disturbance began. -"Stop it, I say. Are you crazy?" - -Poor little Pete, badly excited as to what was happening to his best -friend, was nervously fumbling his gun and eyeing the Aid. - -"Si Klegg, go off and mind your own business, and let me attend to -mine," yelled Shorty, struggling to free himself from his partner's iron -grasp. "Am I goin' to be run over by every pin-feather snipe from West -Point? I'll break him in two." - -"Sergeant," commanded the Aid, reaching to take the field-glasses from -Shorty's hand; "buck and gag that man at once. Knock him down if he -resists. Knock him down, I say." - -"You tend to your own business and I'll tend to mine. Go away from here, -and don't say anything to make him madder, you wasp-waisted errand boy," -said Si savagely, as he thrust himself in between the Aid and Shorty. -"I've got enough to do to take care of him. Go off, if you don't want -him to mash you." - -Little Pete had an idea. He wriggled in between, snatched the glasses, -and made off with them. - -The Brigade Provost-Marshal rode up and sternly demanded what the -disturbance was about. Shorty began a hot harrangue against young staff -officers generally, and this particular offender, but Si got his arm -across his mouth and muffled his speech. The Provost listened to the -Aid's bitter indictment against both Si and Shorty. - -"Put both those men under arrest," he said to the Orderly-Sergeant, "and -make a list of the witnesses. I'll court-martial them at the first -halting place." - - - - - -CHAPTER XX. SHORTY IS ARRAIGNED BEFORE THE COURT-MARTIAL. - -TO REST, refit after the sharp fighting and marching, and to wait for -the slightly wounded and other convalescents to come up, the brigade -went into camp on the banks of the Oostenaula River, near Calhoun, Ga., -and about 20 miles south of Dalton, which had been the objective at the -opening of the campaign. - -And while the men were washing and mending their clothes, it was decided -to put the discipline of the brigade, which had suffered similarly by -the rough campaign, through a somewhat like process of furnishing and -renovation. - -A court-martial was ordered, "to try such cases as may be brought before -it." - -The court convened with all the form and ceremony prescribed by the Army -Regulations for tribunals which pass judgment upon the pay, honor and -lives of officers and men. - -The officers detailed for the court sent back to the baggage wagons, and -got their wrinkled dress-suits out of the valises, they buttoned these -to their throats, donned their swords, sashes and white gloves, and -gathered stiffly and solemnly about a long, rough table, which had been -put up under the spreading limbs of giant oaks. Guards pacing at a -little distance kept all the curious and inquisitive out of earshot. The -camp gossips, full of interest as to the fate of those who were to be -tried, could see an aggravating pantomime acted out, but hear no word. - -A squad of offenders of various degrees of turpitude ranging from -absence without leave to sleeping on post, were huddled together under -the Provost Guard, while Si and Shorty, being non-commissioned officers, -were allowed to remain with their company, to be produced by Capt. -McGillicuddy when wanted. They kept themselves rigidly apart from the -rest of the company, repelling the freely-offered sympathy of their -comrades. Si was most deeply concerned about Shorty, who was so -desperate over his fall from grace, that he regretted that he had not -killed the young Aid, while he was at him, so as to have relieved his -comrades of him, and made his own condemnation and execution sure. - -"Old Maj. Truax, of the 1st Oshkosh, is President of the court," said -the Orderly-Sergeant, as the company was anxiously canvassing the boys' -chances. - -"Gosh, that settles it," groaned Jerry Wilkinson; "that old bull o' the -woods 'd rather shoot a man than not. He's always lookin' around for -some excuse for sculping a man, and the less he has the savager he is." - -"I don't believe it," said the Orderly, "I've watched old Truax, when -he's been roaring around, and I always found that he was after somebody -that deserved it. Men of that kind are pretty certain to be very soft on -good soldiers, like Si and Shorty, and I think he's all right. The boys -of the 1st Oshkosh all swear by him, and you can trust a man's own -regiment to know him surer than anybody else. And then there's Capts. -Suter and Harris, of the Maumee Muskrats." - -"Terrible strict," muttered Jerry despairingly. - -"Lieuts. Newton and Bonesteel, of the Kankakees," continued the Orderly. - -"Good men—promoted from the ranks, and remember that they once carried a -gun themselves." - -"Lieut. McJimsey, of the staff." - -"A wasp-waisted West Pointer, raw from school; thinks he's learned all -there's to know about war out of a book on triggernometry. Has no more -feelin' for a private soljer than I have for a mule. Calls 'em 'my men,' -roared Jerry. - -"And as he's only a Second Lieutenant he'll have the first vote," sighed -the Orderly. "And Lieut. Bowersox is to be the Judge-Advocate. He'll -have to do the prosecuting. I know he hates the job. He thinks the world -and all of Si and Shorty, but he's the kind of a man to do his duty -without fear, favor or affection. And all of us 'll have to testify. -Dumb Shorty's fool soul! Why didn't he get up his ruction somewhere -where the boys couldn't see him, and know nothing about it! I've no -patience with him or Si." - -Lieut. Steigermeyer, the complainant, stalked by in solemn dignity. - -"Can't I shoot that dod-blasted Aid, and save Shorty, and take it all on -myself?" blubbered little Pete, who had been in tears ever since he had -seen the grave assemblage of officers in full dress. - -Shorty Before the Court-martial. 257 - -"Shut up, you little fool," said the Orderly savagely. In the -selfishness of his sorrow it made him angry to see anybody else show -more grief than his. - -The Orderly, in stating Lieut. Bowersox's position, forgot, or was not -aware of the fact, that while the Judge-Advocate represents the -Government at a trial as the Prosecuting Attorney, he is also the -counsel for the defense; a dual role which has important and frequently -unexpected results. - -After the members were duly seated according to rank, with Maj. Truax at -the head of the table, Lieut. Bowersox read the order for holding the -court, and called the names of the members. He then said: - -"Gentlemen, the first case I shall present to your notice is one of -exceeding gravity, affecting a member of my own regiment. As it is the -most important case that you shall have to consider, I thought it best -that it should be disposed of first. Sergeant, bring in Corp'l William -L. Elliott, Co. Q, 200th Ind. Volunteer Infantry." - -Shorty entered the court with an air of extreme depression in face and -manner, instead of the usual confident self-assertion which seemed to -flow from every look and motion. He stood with eyes fixed upon the -ground. - -"Prisoner," said Lieut. Bowersox, "this court has met to try you. Look -around upon the members, and see if there is any one to whom you have -objection. If so, state it." - -Shorty glanced listlessly from the head of the table toward the foot. -There his eye rested on the Second Lieutenant for a minute, and then he -muttered to himself, "No, he's no worse than the rest ought to be on -me," and shook his head in answer to the Judge-Advocate's formal -question. - -"You will each of you rise, hold up your right hand and be sworn," said -the Judge-Advocate, and they each pronounced after him the prolix and -ponderous oath prescribed by the regulations: - -"You, Maj. Benjamin Truax, do swear that you will well and truly try and -determine, according to evidence, the matter now before you, between the -United States of America and the prisoner to be tried, and that you will -duly administer justice, according to the provisions of an act -establishing rules and articles for the government of the armies of the -United States, without partiality, favor or affection; and if any doubt -shall arise, not explained by said articles, according to your -understanding and the custom of war in such cases. And you do further -swear, that you will not divulge the sentence of the court, until it -shall be published by proper authority; neither will you disclose or -discover the vote or opinion of any particular member of the court- -martial, unless required to give evidence thereof, as a witness, by a -court of justice in due course of law. So help you God." - -The President then took the book and administered the same oath to the -Judge-Advocate. - -"I shall now read the charges and specifications," said the Judge- -Advocate, "which are as follows, and he read with sonorous -impressiveness: - -CHARGE:—Insulting, Threatening, and Striking Superior Officer. - -Specification I.—That Corp'l William L. Elliott, Co. Q, 200th Ind. Vol. -Inf., did strike and perform other physical violence upon Second Lieut. -Adolph Steigermeyer, of the Second Corps, U. S. Engr's, who was his -superior officer, and in the performance of his duty, in violation of -the 9th Article of War, and contrary to the discipline of the Armies of -the United States. This on the march of the army from Dalton, Ga., to -Calhoun, Ga., and on the 16th day of May, 1864. - -Specification II.—That said Corp'l William I.. Elliott, Co. Q, 200th -Ind. Vol. Inf., did threaten physical violence to the said Second Lieut, -Adolph Steigermeyer, Second Corps, U. S. Engr's, his superior officer, -and who was in the performance of his duty, contrary to the 9th Article -of War, and the discipline of the Armies of the United States. This on -the march of the army from Dalton, Ga., to Calhoun, Ga., and on the 16th -day of May, 1864. - -Specification III.—That said Corp'l William L. Elliott, Co. Q, 200th -Ind. Vol. Inf., did insult with many opprobrious words, the said Adolph -Steigermeyer, Second Corps, U. S. Engr's, his superior officer, in the -presence of many enlisted men, in violation of the 6th Article of War -and of the discipline of the Armies of the United States. This on the -march of the army from Dalton, Ga., to Calhoun, Ga., and on the 16th day -of May, 1864. - -CHARGE:—Drunkenness on duty. - -Specification I.—That said Corp'l William L. Elliott, Co. Q, 200th Ind. -Vol. Inf., being then on duty, and in command of a squad of men, was -openly and noisily intoxicated and drunk, and incapable of performing -said duty, in violation of the 45th Article of war, and the discipline -of the Armies of the United States. This on the march of the army from -Dalton, Ga., to Calhoun, Ga., and on the 16th day of May, 1864. - -CHARGE 3.—Misappropriating Public Property. - -Specification I.—That said Corp'l William L. Elliott, being charged with -the duty of gathering up and accounting for the property captured from -and abandoned by the enemy, did appropriate to himself, attempt to -conceal, and refuse to deliver to his superior officer a portion -thereof, to wit, one pair of field glasses, in violation of the 58th -Article of War, and contrary to the discipline of the Armies of the -United States. This on the march of the enemy from Dalton, Ga., to -Calhoun, Ga., and on the 16th day of May, 1864. - -"O, goodness gracious!" murmured little Pete Skidmore, almost fainting -with terror, in the covert of oak leaves, just above the court's head, -whither he had noiselessly climbed, to overhear everything. "He's a- -goner, sure! They'll shoot him, sure as guns. Saltpeter won't save him. -He's broke every Article o' War in the whole book. My, what will I do?" - -He slipped down and communicated his information to the anxiously- -expectant comrades of Co. Q. - -"It mayn't be as bad as we expect," the Orderly-Sergeant tried to -console them. "The bite of most of them regulations and charges and -specifications ain't never near as bad as their bark. If they were, a -good many of us would have been shot long ago. My experience in the -army's been that the regulations are like the switches the teachers used -to have in school—a willow for the good scholars, and a stout hickory -for the bad ones. Still, I'm afraid that Shorty won't get off with less -than hard labor for life on the fortifications." - -"Prisoner, you have heard the charges and specifications," said Lieut. -Bowersox, in a stern voice. "How do you plead to them?" - -"O, I'm guilty—guilty o' the whole lot," said Shorty dejectedly. - -"Inasmuch," said Lieut. Bowersox, with an entire change of tone, "as it -is my duty to represent the prisoner's interests as counsel, I shall -disregard his plea, and enter one of not guilty." - -Shorty started to gasp. "But I done all that—" - -"Silence," thundered Lieut. Bowersox, "you are only to speak, sir, when -I or some other member of the court ask you a question." - -"But has the Judge-Advocate the right to disregard the plain plea?" -Lieut. McJimsey started to inquire, when the President interrupted with, - -"Lieutenant, we can have no discussion of the court's practices in the -presence of the prisoner. If you want to enter upon that we shall have -to clear the court. Do you desire that?" - -There was something in the bluff old Major's tone that made the -Lieutenant think this inadvisable, and he signified the negative. - -"Call your first witness, then, Judge-Advocate," said Maj. Truax, with a -wave of his hand. - -Lieut. Steigermeyer, in full-dress, even to epaulets, rigidly erect and -sternly important as to look, testified that he was a Second Lieutenant -in the Regular Army, but had the staff rank of Captain and Inspector- -General, and after going out of his way to allude to the laxness of -discipline he found prevailing in the Western armies, testified that on -the day mentioned, while in pursuance of his duty, he was going over the -battlefield, he came upon the prisoner, whose drunken yelling attracted -his attention; that he had admonished him, and received insults in -reply. - -"My way is to knock a man down, when he gives me any back talk," -remarked the Major, sotto voce, taking a fresh chew of tobacco. "That's -better than court-martialing to promote discipline." - -"Further admonitions," continued the Lieutenant, "had the same result, -and I was about to call a guard to put him under arrest, when I happened -to notice a pair of field-glasses that the prisoner had picked up, and -was evidently intending to appropriate to his own use, and not account -for them. This was confirmed by his approaching me in a menacing manner, -insolently demanding their return, and threatening me in a loud voice if -I did not give them up, which I properly refused to do, and ordered a -Sergeant who had come up to seize and buck-and-gag him. The Sergeant, -against whom I shall appear later, did not obey my orders, but seemed to -abet his companion's gross insubordination. The scene finally -culminated, in the presence of a number of enlisted men, in the -prisoner's wrenching the field-glasses away from me by main force, and -would have struck me had not the Sergeant prevented this. It was such an -act as in any other army in the world would have subjected the offender -to instant execution. It was only possible in—" - -"Pardon me, Lieutenant—I should perhaps say Captain"—interrupted Lieut. -Bowersox, with much sweetness of manner, "but the most of us are -familiar with your views as to the inferiority of the discipline of the -Western Armies to that of the Army of the Potomac and European armies, -so that we need not take up the' time of the court with its reiteration. -What farther happened?" - -"Nothing. The Provost Guard came up at that moment, and I directed a -Sergeant to place the two principal offenders in custody, and secure the -names of the witnesses." - -"Is that all, Captain?" - -"Yes, except that in closing my testimony I feel that it is my duty to -impress upon the court that so flagrant a case as this should be made -the opportunity for an example in the interests of discipline in the -whole army. I have known this prisoner for some time, and watched him. -This is not the first time that he and the Sergeant have insulted me. -They are leaders in that class of uneducated fellows who have entirely -too little respect for officers and gentlemen. They should be taught a -lesson. This is necessary for the dignity and effectiveness of gentlemen -who bear commissions, and—" - -"I will ask the witness if this lecture on military ethics is a part of -his testimony?" asked the Major: - -"I think it is needed," answered the Lieutenant tartly. - -"Let me see, Steigermeyer," said the Major, adjusting another chew of -tobacco to his mouth, and balancing the knife with which he had cut it -off, judicially in his fingers, a favorite position of his when, as a -lawyer, he was putting a witness through a cross-examination. "How long -have you been with this army? Came West with the Eleventh Corps, didn't -you?" - -"No; I was left behind on duty. I didn't come for several weeks after." - -"So I thought. You weren't with us at Stone River, or Chickamauga, or -Mission Ridge. You'd know more if you had been. Your mental horizon -would have been enlarged, so to speak. Aren't you from Milwaukee?" - -"I was born and brought up there, until I went to West Point," answered -the Lieutenant, rather uneasily. - -"So I thought. The only man of your name that I ever heard of kept a -saloon in Milwaukee—a great place for politicians to hang around. I used -to go there myself when I was in politics. He was a sort of a ward boss. -Was he your father?" - -"Yes, sir," said the Lieutenant, with reddening face; "but I don't know -what this has to do with the case that I have presented to your -attention." - -"It has a great deal to do with this lecture with which you have favored -us," answered the Major dryly. "But we'll not discuss that in open -court. Are you through with the witness, Judge-Advocate? If so, call the -next." - -"I'll just ask the Captain a few questions for the defense," said Lieut. -Bowersox. "How did you know that the prisoner was drunk?" - -"How did I know it? How does any man know that another is drunk? He was -boisterous, excited and yelling—that kind of a drunk." - -"But that does not prove that he was drunk. That may be his way of doing -his work. Did you see him drink?" - -"No." - -"Did you ever see him before?" - -"Yes." - -"How was he acting then?" - -"I shall have to say that he was boisterous and yelling then, but not so -wildly excited." - -"Then it was only a difference in degree, not kind. Was he not -accomplishing what he was ordered to do?" - -"Yes, he certainly did bring that limber out of the gulch." - -"Then it is only a matter of opinion that he was drunk. You have nothing -to guide you except your judgment that the man was drunk, who was still -doing his duty pretty effectively." - -"But there could be no mistake. I know that the man was raging drunk." - -"As I said before, that is a matter of opinion and judgment which I will -discuss with the court later. Did the prisoner actually strike you?" - -"I cannot say that he actually did, farther than snatch out of my hand -the field-glasses." - -"He didn't do it! You're lyin'! I yanked the glasses out of your hand. -'Twas me," shouted little Pete, from the oak leaves. - -The members all looked up in astonishment. - -"Sergeant," said the Major to the Sergeant of the Provost Guard, "fetch -that little rascal down and buck-an-gag him, until I can decide what -further punishment he deserves for eavesdropping, and interrupting the -court." - -"I don't care if you kill me," whimpered little Pete, as they tied his -hands together, "if you'll only let Corp'l Elliott off. He wasn't to -blame. It was me. - -"You can go," said Lieut. Bowersox to the Lieutenant. "Sergeant, bring -in Orderly-Sergeant Jacob Whitelaw." - -In response to the Judge-Advocate's direct questionings the Orderly- -Sergeant had to sorrowfully admit that he thought that Shorty was drunk, -very drunk, and exceedingly noisy. But when Lieut. Bowersox changed to -the defense, the Orderly-Sergeant testified with great alacrity that he -had not seen Shorty take a drink, that he did not know where he could -have got whisky; did not know where in all that part of Georgia there -was a drop of liquor outside of the Surgeon's stores and the officers' -canteens; that he wished he did know, for he'd like to have a drink -himself; and that Shorty, when he was putting forth his greatest -strength, was generally very vociferous and not at all careful of what -he said. This was one of the peculiarities of the man, that he was -overlooked on account of his great effectiveness on the men when in that -state. - -The other members of the company testified in the same way, giving their -belief even more emphatically against any liquor being found anywhere in -that neighborhood, and the unlikelihood of Shorty's being able to obtain -any. The other members of the court had "caught on" very quickly to the -tactics of the President and Judge-Advocate. All except Lieut. McJimsey, -whose prepossessions were decidedly and manifestly in favor of the -attitude of his brother staff officer. He grew stiffer and more dogged -as the case proceeded, and frequently asked embarrassing questions. The -Judge-Advocate announced that "the case was closed, and the court would -be cleared for deliberation. - -"Before you open, Judge-Advocate," said Maj. Truax significantly, "I -want to say something, not as a member of this court, but something -between gentlemen, and I want to say it before we begin our -deliberations, in order that it shall not be considered as part of them, -or influencing them. The lecture by that self-sufficient fellow on our -duties makes me tired. I remember his father—he sold the meanest whisky -to be found in Milwaukee. I want to say right here that no man who sells -lager beer can sell whisky fit for gentlemen to drink. Beer corrupts his -taste, mind and judgment. Old Steigermeyer had a good deal of political -influence of a certain kind, and he bulldozed the Representative from -his District into giving his son an appointment to West Point. Now this -young upstart comes around and absolutely lectures us who have always -been gentlemen, and our fathers before us, on gentlemanliness. It was -hard for me to keep from saying something right before him about the -quality of whisky his father used to sell. I can stand a good deal, but -the idea of a ginmill keeper's son lording it over others and over -enlisted men who came of much better stock than he does sticks in my -craw. Now, whenever I find one of these whose father got his appointment -as Steigermeyer's father did (and the old Major's eye wandered down to -where Lieut. McJimsey's air of sternness had given way to visible -unrest) I'm tempted to say unpleasant things. Now, Judge-Advocate, -proceed." - -"The evidence in this case," said Lieut. Bowersox, with the severity -proper to a vindicator of justice, "shows that it was a very flagrant -breach of the essentials of discipline, and deserves stern treatment. A -man wearing the chevrons of a Corporal, has, in the presence of a number -of enlisted men, behaved in the most unseemly manner, showed gross -disobedience to his superior officer, reviled him with opprobrious -epithets, threatened to strike him, and actually did strike him. On the -other hand (and the Lieutenant's tone changed to that of counsel for the -defense), we all of us know that the prisoner is an excellent soldier of -long service, that his influence has always been for the best, and that -he was promoted to Corporal as an exceptional compliment for his part in -capturing a rebel flag at Chickamauga, where he was wounded and left for -dead on the field. It is for you, gentlemen, to take all these facts -into consideration, and determine how men of this stamp should be dealt -with for the best interests of the service. The evidence against him is -in many respects conflicting, and rests upon mere judgment, in which the -best of us are liable to err. I will not detain you farther, gentlemen." - -"You say this prisoner was promoted for capturing a rebel flag at -Chickamauga?" asked Maj. Truax, who was perfectly aware of the fact, but -wanted to emphasize it upon the others. - -"Yes," said Lieut. Bowersox, only too glad of the opportunity. "I saw it -all. Gallant a thing as was ever done. Simply magnificent. Thrills me to -think about it. I tell you that fellow's a soldier all the way through. - -"That was before this Stiegermeyer fellow and a lot of other fellows -(and again his eyes wandered carelessly down toward Lieut. McJimsey) had -even joined us. I remember him also bringing up ammunition to his -regiment at Stone River. He is one of those fellows that you can send to -the rear, and always be sure that he'll come back as fast as his feet -can carry him. I don't want to influence any member of this court, but -the evidence that we have heard don't go an inch toward convincing me -that he was drunk, or struck at his superior officer. There was some -mistake, always liable to excited men. Lieut. McJimsey, you are the -junior officer present. It is your right to speak and vote first. Let us -hear from you." - -The Lieutenant seemed to have recovered his sternness, and his -expression showed a determination to wreak exemplary punishment on the -man who had so grievously offended one of his class. - -"It is clear to me," he began in a hard, set tone, "that an example -should be made. These low, brutal fellows—" - -"When I lived in Chicago," broke in the Major, in a conversational tone, -apparently forgetful that he had called upon the Lieutenant to speak, -but fixing a very piercing blue eye upon him, "I used to mix up a good -deal with the boys who hung around a saloon kept by a ward politician, -an unscrupulous, noisy, driving fellow named—But excuse me. Lieutenant, -I forgot for the moment that I had called upon you to speak." - -The Lieutenant's face had undergone a remarkable change, and as he sank -back in his seat, he said in a forced voice: - -"In consideration solely of the previous excellent character of the -prisoner, I vote not guilty on all the charges and specifications, but -with a distinct warning to the man as to the future." - -"So do I!" "So do I!" said the rest, one after another, so quickly that -it was almost a chorus. - -"Judge-Advocate," said Maj. Truax, "when the General approves this -finding, and you communicate it to prisoner, whisper in his ear that if -he ever strains us this way again I'll take it upon myself to break his -fool neck. Let him look a little out." - -"The next case I have is that of Serg't Josiah Klegg, implicated in the -same affair," said Lieut. Bowersox. - -"Since we have acquitted the principal, it would be foolish to try the -accessory," said Maj. Truax. "Say the same thing to him. Now, let's get -down to business. Bring in that man that skulked when the boys were -going for that abatis. I want to make an example of him, for the good of -the service." - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Si Klegg, Complete, Books 1-6, by John McElroy - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SI KLEGG, COMPLETE, BOOKS 1-6 *** - -***** This file should be named 57334-0.txt or 57334-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/7/3/3/57334/ - -Produced by David Widger from page images generously -provided by the Internet Archive - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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