the red acorn-第1章

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The　Red　Acorn

by　John　McElroy






Preface



The　name　given　this　story　is　that　made　glorious　by　the　valor　and　achievements　of　the　splendid　First　Division　of　the　Fourteenth　Army　Corps；　the　cognizance　of　which　was　a　crimson　acorn；　worn　on　the　breasts　of　its　gallant　soldiers；　and　borne　upon　their　battle　flags。　There　are　few　gatherings　of　men　into　which　one　can　go　to…day　without　finding　some　one　wearing；　as　his　most　cherished　ornament；　a　red　acorn；　frequently　wrought　in　gold　and　studded　with　precious　stones；　and　which　tells　that　its　wearer　is　a　veteran　of　Mill　Springs；　Perryville；　Shiloh；　Corinth；　Stone　River；　Chickamauga；　Mission　Ridge；　Atlanta；　Jonesville；　March　to　the　Sea；　and　Bentonville。

The　Fourteenth　Corps　was　the　heart　of　the　grand　old　Army　of　the　Cumberlandan　army　that　never　new　defeat。　　Its　nucleus　was　a　few　scattered　regiments　in　Eastern　Kentucky；　in　1861；　which　had　the　good　fortune　to　be　commanded　by　Gen。　George　H。　Thomas。　　With　them　he　won　the　first　real　victory　that　blessed　our　arms。　　It　grew　as　he　grew；　and　under　his　superb　leadership　it　was　shaped　and　welded　and　tempered　into　one　of　the　mightiest　military　weapons　the　world　ever　saw。　　With　it　Thomas　wrung　victory　from　defeat　on　the　bloody　fields　of　Stone　River　and　Chickamauga；　with　it　he　dealt　the　final　crushing　blow　of　the　Atlanta　campaign；　and　with　it　defeat　was　again　turned　to　victory　at　Bentonville。

The　characters　introduced　into　the　story　all　belonged　to　or　co…operated　with　the　First　Division　of　the　Fourteenth　Corps。　　The　Corps'　badge　was　the　Acorn。　　As　was　the　custom　in　the　army；　the　divisions　in　each　Corps　were　distinguished　by　the　color　of　the　badgesthe　First's　being　red；　the　Second's　white；　and　the　Third's　blue。　　There　was　a　time　when　this　explanation　was　hardly　necessary；　but　now　eighteen　years　have　elapsed　since　the　Acorn　flags　fluttered　victoriously　over　the　last　field　of　battle；　and　a　generation　has　grown　up　to　which　they　are　but　a　tradition。　　J。　M。





Contents。




Chapter　I。A　Declaration；　　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　　　9　Chapter　II。First　Shots；　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　　18　Chapter　III。A　Race；　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　　28　Chapter　IV。Disgrace；　　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　　38　Chapter　V。The　Lint…Scraping　and　Bandage…making　Union；　…　…　…　　52　Chapter　VI。The　Awakening；　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　　62　Chapter　VII。Pomp　and　Circumstance　of　Glorious　War；　　…　…　…　…　　71　Chapter　VIII。The　Tedium　of　Camp；　　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　　85　Chapter　IX。On　the　March；　　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　　92　Chapter　X。The　Mountaineer's　Revenge；　　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　112　Chapter　XI。Through　the　Mountain　and　the　Night；　　…　…　…　…　…　…　126　Chapter　XII。Aunt　Debby　Brill；　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　141　Chapter　XIII。An　Apple　Jack　Raid；　　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　160　Chapter　XIV。In　the　Hospital；　　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　175　Chapter　XV。Making　Acquaintance　with　Duty；　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　184　Chapter　XVI。The　Ambuscade；　　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　204　Chapter　XVII。Alspaugh　on　a　Bed　of　Pain；　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　230　Chapter　XVIII。Secret　Service；　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　252　Chapter　XIX。The　Battle　of　Stone　River；　　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　…　279





Chapter　I。　　A　Declaration。




O；　what　is　so　rare　as　a　day　in　June？　　　Then；　if　ever；　come　perfect　days；　Then　Heaven　tries　the　Earth　if　it　be　in　tune；　　　And　over　it　softly　her　warm　ear　lays。〃　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Lowell。


Of　all　human　teachers　they　were　the　grandest　who　gave　us　the　New　Testament；　and　made　it　a　textbook　for　Man　in　every　age。　　Transcendent　benefactors　of　the　race；　they　opened　in　it　a　never…failing　well…spring　of　the　sweet　waters　of　Consolation　and　Hope；　which　have　flowed　over；　fertilized；　and　made　blossom　as　a　rose　the　twenty…century　wide　desert　of　the　ills　of　human　existence。

But　they　were　not　poets；　as　most　of　the　authors　of　the　Old　Testament　were。

They　were　too　much　in　earnest　in　their　great　work　of　carrying　the　glad　evangel　of　Redemption　to　all　the　earththey　so　burned　with　eagerness　to　pour　their　joyful　tidings　into　every　ear；　that　they　recked　little　of　the　FORM　in　which　the　saving　intelligence　was　conveyed。

Had　they　been　poets　would　they　have　conceived　Heaven　as　a　place　with　foundations　of　jasper；　sapphires　and　emeralds；　gates　of　pearl；　and　streets　of　burnished　gold　that　shone　like　glass？　　Never。

That　showed　them　to　be　practical　men；　of　a　Semitic　cast　of　mind；　who　addressed　hearers　that　agreed　with　them　in　regarding　gold　and　precious　stones　as　the　finest　things　of　which　the　heart　could　dream。

Had　they　been　such　lovers　of　God's　handiwork　in　Nature　as　the　Greek　religious　teacherswho　were　also　poetsthey　would　have　painted　us　a　Heaven　vaulted　by　the　breath　of　opening　flowers；　and　made　musical　by　the　sweet　songs　of　birds　in　the　first　rapture　of　finding　their　young　mates。

In　other　words　they　would　have　given　us　a　picture　of　earth　on　a　perfect　June　day。

On　the　afternoon　of　such　a　day　as　this　Rachel　Bond　sat　beneath　an　apple…tree　at　the　crest　of　a　moderate　hill；　and　looked　dreamily　away　to　where；　beyond　the　village　of　Sardis　at　the　foot　of　the　hill；　the　Miami　River　marked　the　beautiful　valley　like　a　silver　ribbon　carelessly　flung　upon　a　web　of　green　velvet。　　Rather　she　seemed　to　be　looking　there；　for　the　light　that　usually　shown　outward　in　those　luminous　eyes　was　turned　inward。　　The　little　volume　of　poems　had　dropped　unheeded　from　the　white　hand。　　It　had　done　its　office：　the　passion　of　its　lines　had　keyed　her　thoughts　to　a　harmony　that　suffused　her　whole　being；　until　all　seemed　as　naturally　a　part　of　the　glorious　day　as　the　fleecy　clouds　in　the　sapphire　sky；　the　cheerful　hum　of　the　bees；　and　the　apple…blossoms'　luxurious　scent。

Her　loveand；　quite　as　much；　her　girlish　ambitionhad　been　crowned　with　violets　and　bays　some　weeks　before；　when　the　fever…heat　of　patriotism　seemed　to　bring　another　passion　in　Harry　Glen's　bosom　to　the　eruptive　point；　and　there　came　the　long…waited…for　avowal　of　his　love；　which　was　made　on　the　evening　before　his　company　departed　to　respond　to　the　call　for　troops　which　followed　the　fall　of　Fort　Sumter。

Does　it　seem　harsh　to　say　that　she　had　sought　to　bring　about　this　DENOUEMENT？　　Rather；　it　seems　that　her　efforts　were　commendable。　She　was　a　young　woman　of　marriageable　age。　　She　believed　her　her　mission　in　life　was　marriage　to　some　man　who　would　make　her　a　good　husband；　and　whom　she　would　in　turn　love；　honor；　and　strive　to　make　happy。　　Harry　Glen's　family　was　the　equal　of　her's　in　social　station；　and　a　little　above　it　in　wealth。　　to　this　he　added　educational　and　personal　advantages　that　made　him　the　most　desirable　match　in　Sardis。　　Starting　with　the　premises　given　above；　her　first　conclusion　was　the　natural　one　that　she　should　marry　the　best　man　available；　and　the　next　that　that　man　was　Harry　Glen。

Her　efforts　had　been　bounded　by　the　strictest　code　of　maidenly　ethics；　and　so　artistically　developed　that　the　only　persons　who　penetrated　their　skillful　veiling；　and　detected　her　as　a　〃designing　creature；〃　were　two　or　three　maiden　friends；　whose　maneuvers　toward　the　same　objective　were　brought　to　naught　by　her　success。

It　must　be　admitted　that　refining　causists　may　find　room　for　censure　in　this　making　Ambition　the　advance　guard　to　spy　out　the　ground　that　Love　is　to　occupy。　　But；　after　all；　is　there　not　a　great　deal　of　mistake　about　the　way　that　true　love　begins？　　If　we　had　the　data　before　us　we　should　be　pained　by　the　enlightenment　that；　in　the　vast　majority　of　cases　the　regard　of　young　people　for　each　other　is　fixed　in　the　first　instance　by　motives　that　will　bear　quite　as　little　scrutiny　as　Miss　Rachel　Bond's。

We　can　afford　to　be　careless　how　the　germ　of　love　is　planted。　　The　main　thing　is　how　it　is　watered　and　tended；　and　brought　to　a　lasting　and　beautiful　growth。　　Rachel's　ambition　gratified；　there　had　been　a　steady　rise　toward　flood　in　the　tide　of　her　affections。　　She　was　not　long　in　growing　to　love　Harry　with　all　the　intensity　of　a　really　ardent　nature。

After　the　meeting　at　which　Harry　had　signed　the　recruiting　roll；　he　had　taken　her　home　up　the　long；　sloping　hill；　through　moonlight　as　soft；　as　inspiring；　as　glorifying　as　that　which　had　melted　even　the　frosty　Goddess　of　Maidenhood；　so　that　she　stooped　from　her　heavenly　unapproachableness；　and　kissed　the　handsome　Endymion　as　he　slept。

Though　little　and　that　commonplace　was　said　as　they　walked；　subtle　womanly　instinct　prepared　Rachel's　mind　for　what　was　coming；　and　her　grasp　upon　Harry's　arm　assumed　a　new　feeling　that　hurried　him　on　to　the　crisis。

They　stopped　beneath　the　old　apple…tree；　at　the　crest　of　the　hill；　and　in　front　of　the　house。　　Its　gnarled　and　twisted　limbs　had　been　but　freshly　clothed　in　a　suit　of　fragrant　green　leaves。

The　ruddy　bonfires；　lighted　for　the　war…meeting；　still　burned　in　the　village　below。　　The　hum　of　supplementary　speeches　to　the　excited　crowds　that　still　lingered　about　came　to　their　ears；　mingled　with　cheers　from　throat　rapidly　growing　hoarse；　and　the　throb　and　wail　of　fife　and　drum。　　Then；　uplifted　on　the　voices　of　hundreds　who　sang　it　as　only　men；　and　men　swayed　by　powerful　emotions　can；　rose　the　ever…glorious　〃Star…Spangled　Banner；〃　loftiest　and　most　inspiring　of　national　hymns。　　Through　its　long；　forceful　measures；　which　have　the　sweep　and　ring　of　marching　battalions；　swung　the　singers；　with　a　passionate　earnestness　that　made　every　note　and　word　glow　with　meaning。　　The　swelling　paean　told　of　the　heroism　and　sacrifice　with　which　the　foundations　of　the　Nation　were　laid；　of　the　glory　to　which　the　land　had　risen；　and　then　its　mood　changing　to　one　of　direness　and　wrath；　it　foretold　the　just　punishment　of　those　who　broke　the　peace　of　a　happy　land。

The　mood　of　the　Sardis　people　was　that　patriotic　exaltation　which　reigned　in　every　city　and　village　of　the　North　on　that　memorable　night　of　April；　1861。

But　Rachel　and　Harry　had　left　far　behind　them　this　passion　of　the　multitude；　which　had　set　their　own　to　throbbing；　even　as　the　roar　of　a　cannon　will　waken　the　vibrations　of　harp…strings。　　Around　where　they　stood　was　the　peace　of　the　night　and　sleep。　　The　perfume　of　violets　and　hyacinths；　and　of　myriads　of　opening　buds　seemed　shed　by　the　moon　with　her　silvery　rays　through　the　soft；　dewy　air；　a　few　nocturnal　insects　droned　hither　and　thither；　and　〃drowsy　tinklings　lulled　the　distant　folds。〃

As　their　steps　were　arrested　Rachel　released　her　grasp　from　Harry's　arm；　but　he　caught　her　hand　before　it　fell　to　her　side；　and　held　it　fast。　　She　turned　her　face　frankly　toward　him；　and　he　looked　down　with　anxious　eyes　upon　the　broad　white　forehead；　framed　in　silken　black　hair；　upon　great　eyes；　flaming　with　a　meaning　that　he　feared　to　interpret；　upon　the　eloquent　lines　about　the　mobile；　sensitive　mouth；　all　now　lifted　into　almost　supernatural　beauty　by　the　moonlight's　spiritualizing　magic。

What　he　said　he　could　never　afterward　recall。　　His　first　memory　was　that　of　a　pause　in　his　speech；　when　he　saw　the　ripe；　red　lips　turned　toward　him　with　a　gesture　of　the　proud　head　that　was　both　an　assent　and　invitation。　　The　kiss　that　he　pressed　there　thrilled　him　with　the　intoxication　of　unexpectedly　rewarded　love；　and　Rachel　with　the　gladness　of　triumph。

What　they　afterward　said　was　as　incoherent　as　the　conversations