按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
exceedingly rapid mountain stream； with a very slippery rocky bottom。
The Rebels blockaded a ford in such a way that it was almost impossible
for a horse to keep his feet。 Then they tolled us off in pursuit of a
small party to this ford。 When we came to it there was a light line of
skirmishers on the opposite bank； who popped away at us industriously。
Our boys formed in line； gave the customary； cheer； and dashed in to
carry the ford at a charge。 As they did so at least one…half of the
horses went down as if they were shot； and rolled over their riders in
the swift running； ice…cold waters。 The Rebels yelled a triumphant
laugh； as they galloped away； and the laugh was re…echoed by our fellows；
who were as quick to see the joke as the other side。 We tried to get
even with them by a sharp chase； but we gave it up after a few miles；
without having taken any prisoners。
But； after all； there was much to make our sojourn in the Valley
endurable。 Though we did not wear fine linen； we fared sumptuouslyfor
soldiersevery day。 The cavalryman is always charged by the infantry
and artillery with having a finer and surer scent for the good things in
the country than any other man in the service。 He is believed to have an
instinct that will unfailingly lead him； in the dankest night； to the
roosting place of the most desirable poultry； and after he has camped in
a neighborhood for awhile it would require a close chemical analysis to
find a trace of ham。
We did our best to sustain the reputation of our arm of the service。
We found the most delicious hams packed away in the ash…houses。
They were small； and had that； exquisite nutty flavor； peculiar to mast…
fed bacon。 Then there was an abundance of the delightful little apple
known as 〃romanites。〃 There were turnips； pumpkins； cabbages； potatoes；
and the usual products of the field in plenty； even profusion。 The corn
in the fields furnished an ample supply of breadstuff。 We carried it to
and ground it in the quaintest； rudest little mills that can be imagined
outside of the primitive affairs by which the women of Arabia coarsely
powder the grain for the family meal。 Sometimes the mill would consist
only of four stout posts thrust into the ground at the edge of some
stream。 A line of boulders reaching diagonally across the stream
answered for a dam； by diverting a portion of the volume of water to a
channel at the side； where it moved a clumsily constructed wheel； that
turned two small stones； not larger than good…sized grindstones。 Over
this would be a shed made by resting poles in forked posts stuck into the
ground； and covering these with clapboards held in place by large flat
stones。 They resembled the mills of the godsin grinding slowly。
It used to seem that a healthy man could eat the meal faster than they
ground it。
But what savory meals we used to concoct around the campfires； out of the
rich materials collected during the day's ride！ Such stews； such soups；
such broils； such wonderful commixtures of things diverse in nature and
antagonistic in properties such daring culinary experiments in combining
materials never before attempted to be combined。 The French say of
untasteful arrangement of hues in dress 〃that the colors swear at each
other。〃 I have often thought the same thing of the heterogeneities that
go to make up a soldier's pot…a feu。
But for all that they never failed to taste deliciously after a long
day's ride。 They were washed down by a tincupful of coffee strong enough
to tan leather； then came a brier…wood pipeful of fragrant kinnikinnic；
and a seat by the ruddy； sparkling fire of aromatic cedar logs； that
diffused at once warmth； and spicy； pleasing incense。 A chat over the
events of the day； and the prospect of the morrow； the wonderful merits
of each man's horse； and the disgusting irregularities of the mails from
home； lasted until the silver…voiced bugle rang out the sweet； mournful
tattoo of the Regulations； to the flowing cadences of which the boys had
arranged the absurdly incongruous words：
〃S…a…yD…e…u…t…c…h…e…r…will…you fight…mit Sigel！
Zwei…glass of lager…bier； ja！ ja！ JA！
Words were fitted to all the calls； which generally bore some
relativeness to the sigmal； but these were as； destitute of congruity as
of sense。
Tattoo always produces an impression of extreme loneliness。 As its
weird； half…availing notes ring out and are answered back from the
distant rocks shrouded in night； and perhaps concealing the lurking foe；
the soldier remembers that he is far away from home and friendsdeep in
the enemy's country； encompassed on every hand by those in deadly
hostility to him； who are perhaps even then maturing the preparations for
his destruction。
As the tattoo sounds； the boys arise from around the fire； visit the
horse line； see that their horses are securely tied； rub off from the
fetlocks and legs such specks of mud as may have escaped the cleaning in
the early evening； and if possible； smuggle their faithful four…footed
friends a few ears of corn； or another bunch of hay。
If not too tired； and everything else is favorable； the cavalryman has
prepared himself a comfortable couch for the night。 He always sleeps
with a chum。 The two have gathered enough small tufts of pine or cedar
to make a comfortable； springy； mattress…like foundation。 On this is
laid the poncho or rubber blanket。 Next comes one of their overcoats；
and upon this they lie； covering themselves with the two blankets and the
other overcoat； their feet towards the fire； their boots at the foot； and
their belts； with revolver； saber and carbine； at the sides of the bed。
It is surprising what an amount of comfort a man can get out of such a
couch； and how； at an alarm； he springs from it； almost instantly dressed
and armed。
Half an hour after tattoo the bugle rings out another sadly sweet strain；
that hath a dying sound。
CHAPTER IV。
A BITTER COLD MORNING AND A WARM AWAKENINGTROUBLE ALL ALONG THE LINE
FIERCE CONFLICTS； ASSAULTS AND DEFENSEPROLONGED AND DESPERATE STRUGGLE
ENDING WITH A SURRENDER。
The night had been the most intensely cold that the country had known for
many years。 Peach and other tender trees had been killed by the frosty
rigor； and sentinels had been frozen to death in our neighborhood。 The
deep snow on which we made our beds； the icy covering of the streams near
us； the limbs of the trees above us； had been cracking with loud noises
all night； from the bitter cold。
We were camped around Jonesville； each of the four companies lying on one
of the roads leading from the town。 Company L lay about a mile from the
Court House。 On a knoll at the end of the village toward us； and at a
point where two roads separated；one of which led to us；stood a three…
inch Rodman rifle； belonging to the Twenty…second Ohio Battery。 It and
its squad of eighteen men； under command of Lieutenant Alger and Sergeant
Davis； had been sent up to us a few days before from the Gap。
The comfortless gray dawn was crawling sluggishly over the mountain…tops；
as if numb as the animal and vegetable life which had been shrinking all
the l