Si Klegg Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Si Klegg novel. A total of 1823 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : Si Klegg.by John McElroy.Book One PREFACE."Si Klegg, of the 200th Ind., and Shorty,
Si Klegg.by John McElroy.Book One 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
- 123 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 hi
- 122 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 bee
- 121 "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
- 120 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 pus.h.i.+ng toward the Provost's desk.Suddenly the Provost looked over those i
- 119 "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, pa.s.senger, from the W
- 118 "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
- 117 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,
- 116 "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 Snodgra.s.s Hill, where Gen. Thomas, with the remainder of the Army of the c.u.mberlan
- 115 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
- 114 "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, ineffe
- 113 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
- 112 "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 in
- 111 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
- 110 "It's G.o.d'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
- 109 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 S
- 108 "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 Kl
- 107 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 q
- 106 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
- 105 "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 betwee
- 104 "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 res
- 103 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
- 102 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 th
- 101 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
- 100 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
- 99 "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
- 98 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 sh.o.r.e had stirred up the rebels. A canoe with three men in it had pushed out, and, struggling with t
- 97 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'."[Ill.
- 96 "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 th
- 95 After a lot of toilsome plodding through the rain and mud which the pa.s.sing 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 t
- 94 "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 spe
- 93 "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 no
- 92 Si Klegg.by John McElroy.Book Four 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, r
- 91 "Thats all right," said Si, to whom an idea occurred. "Hustle around, boys, but dont make no noise. Well march off so quietly that they wont know that were gone, and itll be lots o fun thinking what theyll do when they wake up and begin clapper-clawin
- 90 "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
- 89 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
- 88 "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. "
- 87 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
- 86 "Stand up," said Shorty, approaching Hackberry with the bright crimson rod in his hand. "I'm goin' to measure you for a gra.s.s-green suit that'll last you till Gabriel blows his horn."Hackberry gave a howl of terror. The 'Squire and Mrs. Bolster
- 85 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 fire
- 84 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."h.e.l.lo, Simmons," said the Major in a tone of strong rebuke as soon as he entered. "What in the
- 83 "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 obstreperou
- 82 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'
- 81 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 d
- 80 "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 up{185} North and start a side-show with her.
- 79 "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 LAD
- 78 "Well," said Shorty, as he got through, "you're a regler grogshop on wheels. All you need is a lot{172} o' loafers talkin' politics, a few picturs o' racin' hosses and some customers buried in the village graveyard to be a first-cla.s.s bar-room.
- 77 "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
- 76 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 tel
- 75 "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, splas.h.i.+ng men.There was somet
- 74 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 fain
- 73 "Blamed if that feller didn't make a good line{137} 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."S
- 72 "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 a.s.sortment disdainfully, for he wanted something superlatively fine for his letter."Why
- 71 Shorty was sitting in front of the house bathing his aching feet.The man stopped before him, and looked compa.s.sionately 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
- 70 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 pa
- 69 "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.[Ill.u.s.tration: SHORTY AND SI ARE AT O
- 68 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!"[Ill.u.s.tration: UNDESIRABLE ACQUAINTANCE
- 67 "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
- 66 "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
- 65 "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' f
- 64 "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
- 63 "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 w
- 62 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 pi
- 61 [Ill.u.s.tration: KLEGG STARTS HOME. 45]The boys stood and watched the train with sorrowful eyes until it had pa.s.sed 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 t
- 60 "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 thou
- 59 "'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 t
- 58 Si Klegg.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
- 57 "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' ba.s.swood. This ain't n.i.g.g.e.r-quarters. Git some springs in your feet."And he emphasized his injunctions with a vigorous push.T
- 56 "All right," a.s.sented 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
- 55 "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' G.o.d, I don't
- 54 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
- 53 The Deacon stowed himself in the wagons with{239} the rest the next morning, and rode out with them through the bright suns.h.i.+ne, that gave promise of the soon oncoming of Spring. For miles they jolted over the execrable roads and through the s.h.i.+ft
- 52 "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 and{283} broke it open. And what do you suppose was in that?""Whisky, of course," yelled th
- 51 "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 poc
- 50 "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 tou
- 49 "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
- 48 "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 comfortab
- 47 "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
- 46 "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 kin
- 45 "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 tir
- 44 [Ill.u.s.tration: 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 s.n.a.t.c.hed up the umbrella and began laying about him. The crash was fear
- 43 "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 enli
- 42 "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 Wagon
- 41 [Ill.u.s.tration: 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 th
- 40 They fell to with a will, even the Captain a.s.sisting, 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 put
- 39 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
- 38 [Ill.u.s.tration: 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
- 37 "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 ba
- 36 "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 t
- 35 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 circ.u.mstances. "The two Lieutenants and the Orderly had the upper berth, and we sle
- 34 "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 contin
- 33 "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.
- 32 "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
- 31 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 r
- 30 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
- 29 "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 t
- 28 "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 mak
- 27 "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 a
- 26 Si Klegg.by John McElroy.Book Two 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, re
- 25 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 ca
- 24 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